VAWG Another walk they have recently
undertaken is along the old disused railway line running through Telford, which is popular with dog walkers, with two female principal officers, a chief principal officer along with residents and counsellors.
“Because it is a well-used route, we were all able to see it through other people’s eyes,” explained Sergeant Jones. “So even though it may look fine to some people, there still may be points that can be improved.” Female officers from
saying this is fantastic and they have enjoyed being out with the officers, which has been nice to hear. So far, I believe overall, it has been really positive for us. We want to help as much as we can,” he said.
“Our residential areas are particularly made up of 1970s buildings, designed to create a community, but there are many back alleys, short cuts that aren’t
“Prevention has to play a significant role to ensure we make environments safe, especially for women and girls.”
West Mercia Police conduct the walk and talks, due to having a greater understanding from a female perspective.
“I am using officers from local policing
teams, however I’m looking to branch out and see if we can get other departments involved to help with the patrols,” he added. Sergeant Jones reflected on how well the scheme has resonated with the residents of West Mercia. “We have had positive feedback,
appealing for a lone female to walk down. So, though the area is easy to get around, unfortunately some residents feel unsafe. Even myself, I probably wouldn’t feel happy going down some of them when I am off duty.” The Walk and Talk scheme has ensured there is a much better relationship between the police and the local community, and West Mercia Police has received positive feedback from the
initiative. The force has promoted the Walk and Talk initiative, and provided an email address and have an online forum so individuals can talk to the force directly and highlight particular routes they would like the officers to walk with them along. Finally, Sergeant Jones described the online tools that helps the force to communicate with the public. He said: “We use a system called Neighbourhood Matters. Residents sign up for it where they can either receive alerts or they can message us directly to feedback their concerns. If they are
concerned about areas, we can target them areas and investigate.”
The National Centre for Domestic Violence has a team of dedicated specialist trainers located around the country. They provide bespoke in- house training to the police and support agencies, free of charge.
This 45 minute training includes: • How NCDV can help survivors of Domestic Violence. • The Cross Government definition of Domestic Abuse. • The three emergency injunctions that NCDV specialises in obtaining, namely Non Molestation Orders, Occupation Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders. The training includes victim application criteria i.e. who can apply and when. • How the three orders compare with Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs). • How to refer victims to NCDV and how the feedback loop provides victims and third party referrers with updates. • The role of Legal Aid and options for victims who aren’t eligible for public funding. • The case building, court and service process. • The Police ASSIST database that contains copies of the injunctions. If you are a police officer or a support agency who would like to receive this free training contact:
charlotte.woodward@ncdv.org.uk
“Incredible service, the turn around time since making the third party referral have been nothing short of brilliant. I have been kept up to date throughout the process. The applicant I made the referral on behalf of is also very pleased with the service. This kind of work changes lives for the better. Keep up the great work.” RB Surrey Police September 2023
0800 970 2070 41 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2023
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