It will come as no surprise to many women that violence against women is now a “national emergency”. (Violence against women in England and Wales: police announces “national emergency” on 23 July) but the fact that this is backed up by independent analysis from the National Police Chiefs’ Council may raise eyebrows. The question is: what will the police do about it?
In my own personal experience, I felt that the police training was inadequate. I once complained to the police about being severely harassed by a strange man on the street. I later found out that my complaint to the police had not been recorded. I complained a second time. In this case the complaint was recorded but the onus was on me to present evidence and see if there were CCTV cameras in the area. In the end, the case went nowhere. On another occasion, a police officer from the local police station told me that a man who was masturbating next to me on the bus had not committed a crime because there was no indecent conduct.
Sadly, in other cases, serving police officers have been found guilty of serious misconduct (in the case of Sisters Viva Henry and Nicole Smallman) or deemed downright dangerous (in the case of Sarah Everard).
“If police do not take violence against women and girls seriously, male perpetrators of violence receive the message that they can get away with it. The findings of the police’s own investigations are simply a document to be ignored unless serious action is taken. We need properly trained and thoroughly vetted police officers to protect women and girls from violence.”
Cynthia Scott
London
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