Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has launched an online hub that provides advice, guidance and information to anyone who is concerned about sexual violence, abuse, or harassment to help everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight feel safer.
The platform went live on 25th November to mark the International Day to End Violence Against Women, and signifies the region’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
The site has been funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones after her office secured Safer Streets Home Office Grant funding. The hub, called Safer Together Hampshire, has been produced by Portsmouth City Council as a member of the Commissioner’s VAWG group, and it has been developed in partnership with other local authorities, organisations and charities.
It is open to anyone who is worried about or has experienced sexual violence and it also provides advice to those worried about their own behaviour. It also hosts resources for schools and colleges for staff to access training guides to help young people challenge the culture, beliefs and attitudes that say violence is acceptable.
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, said:
“Violence against women and girls is not just an issue for policing, it is for the whole of society to tackle. Only by working together and challenging behaviour, asking questions and educating can we really change attitudes and bring about long lasting change.
“As Commissioner, I know how hard it is for victims of sexual violence to know where to turn. The hub provides several pathways to charities that can help funded by my office in partnership with local authorities.
“I also recognise not just women are affected by violence which is why the hub is open to anyone experiencing abuse, or worried about their own behaviour escalating.”
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PCC Donna Jones has committed to ensuring violence against women and girls is tackled as part of her new Police and Crime Plan. As Commissioner, she continues to fund a range of services to support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, in addition to charities which work with offenders to change behaviours and stop reoffending.
The Hub, called Safer Together Hants, has been funded by the Home Office Safer Streets grants, which was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The hub can be accessed here.
For discretion, the quick exit button in the top left hand corner to allow users to close down the page swiftly.
Whilst this is a useful add-on, the real imperative must be to bring cases to court in a timely so that victims are not re-traumatised by first the delay then having to relive the events many months later. The discontinuation rate is soaring which will simply make perpetrators feel they can get away with abuse.
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