Date
A new initiative launched today at Conwy Business Centre, Llandudno Junction with the aim of creating a North Wales without violence. Called the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, the objective of the plan is to work with communities to prevent and reduce serious violence across the region.
The key priorities of the North Wales strategy are:
- Supporting and enhancing prevention and early intervention around violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV).
- Promoting contextual safeguarding to work with children and young people vulnerable to exploitation and/or modern slavery.
- Identifying and implementing improvements, best practice and innovation as a partnership to respond to serious violence.
- Building a preventative approach in North Wales, through and understanding of risk, adverse childhood experiences and trauma.
The new strategy is the first of its kind in Wales, and has been introduced as part of the Serious Violence Duty that now lies with local law enforcement across the country, following the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The duty focuses on bringing partners, including the police, local authorities, fire and rescue services and specified health and criminal justice agencies together to tackle serious violence and its root causes in local areas.
Serious violence has a profound impact on individuals and communities across North Wales. During 2022-23 over 30,000 offences of violence against the person were recorded by the police across the region. That amounts to 44 offences per 1,000 people, though this was a decrease on the year before.
Ian Bancroft, Chair of Safer North Wales Partnership Board, and Chief Executive of Wrexham County Borough Council: “This is a landmark strategy that marks a turning point in our collective efforts to create a safer, more just region. When serious violence occurs, and when people are living in fear of violence, the impact within our communities is devastating. This strategy, born from extensive collaboration among key stakeholders and our vital community partners, offers a bold and comprehensive blueprint for change. Our vision is clear: a North Wales where violence holds no sway, where individuals feel safe and empowered, and where families thrive in a climate of respect and dignity.”
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “In North Wales, the requirements of the Serious Violence Duty will be met as a region. There is much to be proud of across existing partnerships and there is a strong history of collaboration across agencies. There is also confidence in what can be achieved through our aim of working together with our communities to prevent and reduce serious violence in North Wales. As Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, I am proud my office is leading the work on the strategy and helping to forge a safer future for all residents of the region.”
Amanda Blakeman, Chief Constable of North Wale Police said: “As the All-Wales Police Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, I have zero tolerance towards anyone in our society who perpetrates offences such as these.
“No individual should live in fear or suffer violence and the effects of doing so can be truly devastating. The Serious Violence Duty lays down a blueprint which focuses on taking a robust proactive and preventative approach.
“This Duty builds on the existing partnerships and will use this foundation as a platform to make further improvements. I welcome this collaborative approach which will work towards reducing violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence.”
Diane Jones, Serious Violence Programme Lead, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner added: “This Serious Violence Strategy is founded on evidence and designed for long-term impact. We’re not just reacting to incidents – we’re proactively investing in prevention, intervention, and building the resilience of our communities in North Wales to break the cycle of violence.”
Fflur Emlyn, Head of Operations/Deputy CEO, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales said: “We support children, young people and adults in North Wales that have experienced sexual abuse and/or violence and have also run a prevention campaign - Don’t Steal My Future - delivering training to schools, colleges, universities and sports clubs across North Wales.
“We have campaigned to raise awareness of the prevalence and impact of sexual violence and abuse, not only from the perspective of the victim or survivor, but also the perpetrator. We believe that while it is critical to provide intervention to victims of sexual violence and abuse, it is also critical that we tackle the root problem – which is the perpetrating. This intervention has resulted in behaviour change, and alongside this new strategy our hope is that we will continue to reach young boys and men and will contribute to the seismic shift needed in society to eradicate sexual violence.”
To read the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, visit: Final formatted version North Wales strategy v3 (1).pdf (northwales-pcc.gov.uk)