DORSET Police vow to tackle violence against women as new data shows it makes up 20 per cent of recorded crimes nationwide.

In a national policing statement published on Tuesday, July 23, by the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council, it was revealed more than one million violence against women and girls (VAWG)-related crimes were recorded nationally during 2022/23, accounting for 20 per cent of all police recorded crime.

Police leaders are calling for a whole-system approach that brings together criminal justice partners, government bodies, and industry in a new partnership to reduce the scale and impact of VAWG.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “While reports of rape, serious sexual offences and stalking and harassment offences have decreased in Dorset over the last year, the Force recognises there is still work to do and remains committed to relentlessly pursuing offenders and ensuring victims are supported and safeguarded.”

In the county, police have rolled out several initiatives in a bid to tackle violence against women:

• Specialist training to detectives to investigate adult sexual offences.

• Increased the number of Sexual Offence Liaison Officers (SOLOs) who are trained to interview adult victims of sexual offences and improve our contact with victims.

• Partnered with Wessex CPS colleagues as part of a tri-force approach to respond to the findings of the national End-to-End Rape Review.

•The Force is part of Op Soteria, which aims to improve the response of the police service to victims of rape and sexual offences and their experience of the criminal justice process, resulting in a greater number of cases going to court and better support for victims.

• Local policing teams are working with partners on a range of initiatives to ensure the safety of women and girls in Dorset, including SafeSpace, a hub in Weymouth for anyone out at night who may feel vulnerable, and Op Vigilant to identify potential perpetrators.

• The Force has joined partner agencies to sign up for the Unity Promise women’s safety charter, launched in March with seven commitments. It will support businesses with training on improving safety for women and girls.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan, of Dorset Police, said: “Across Dorset we have made a commitment to protecting women and girls and it is clear from the work we are already undertaking that the answer to tackling this national issue is by all agencies working together in a whole system approach.

“Areas such as domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, child abuse and exploitation, rape and sexual offending are key priorities for the force, and we are determined to do all we can to protect and achieve justice for those affected.

“I would like to reassure our communities that we already work alongside our partners, both statutory and non-statutory, as well as with our communities to achieve our ambition.

"This approach includes coming together on community safety partnerships, a multi-agency safeguarding hub, and both adult and child safeguarding boards.

“We fully acknowledge that a large number of offences committed against women and girls go unreported. I would strongly encourage anyone who has been the victim of an offence to come forward and speak to us so we can investigate it and offer support.”

You can make a report in various ways: online at www.dorset.police.uk, by calling 101, or by dialling 999 if a crime is in progress. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.