Expert team established to bolster the safety of women and girls

8 March 2024

A first-of-its-kind dedicated unit has been set up by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin to tackle violence against women and girls in the region.

Speaking at an event to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Mayor and her Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, will be unveiling the region’s new Women’s Safety Unit.

A national first, the team is a pioneering partnership and will comprise of members from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the county’s Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), and West Yorkshire Police.

This innovative development comes a year after Baroness Louise Casey’s review into the Metropolitan Police, which found institutional sexism, racism, and homophobia within the force. Speaking after its publication, Baroness Casey questioned why the effective approach to reducing knife crime and serious violence – through fully funded Violence Reduction Units within affected communities – isn’t deployed when tackling gender violence. Mayor Tracy Brabin is acting to rectify this as part of her mission to keep women and girls safe.

Launching as a 12-month pilot, the dedicated unit will support the delivery of the Mayor’s Safety of Women and Girls Strategy, which sets out a long-term plan to bring about change, focusing on themes spanning education, prevention, and tackling inappropriate behaviours.

Mayor Brabin said: “Here in West Yorkshire, we're leading the way in tackling violence against women and girls.

“I’m delighted to announce the establishment of our Women’s Safety Unit, a ground-breaking collaboration of experts committed to long-term change.

“I want every woman and girl in our region to know that we’re here for you, we’re fighting your corner, and we will not stop until each and every one of you feel safe.”

Since its creation in November 2022, a number of milestones from the Mayor’s Safety of Women and Girls Strategy have been achieved, including:

The launch of the #JustDont campaign, targeting everyday harassment and inappropriate male behaviour towards women and girls, and empowering men and boys to become allies. Since September 2023, the campaign’s powerful video has been viewed over 3 and a half million times.
The creation of national guidance outlining how to make parks and green spaces safer for women and girls, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, Make Space for Girls, and Keep Britain Tidy.
Over £950,000 of cash previously associated with criminal activities has been awarded to community projects tackling violence against women and girls through the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, bringing the total to over £1.3 million since 2021.

The Women’s Safety Unit will continue to build upon these achievements and will focus on improving outcomes for victims across West Yorkshire.

I want every woman and girl in our region to know that we’re here for you, we’re fighting your corner, and we will not stop until each and every one of you feel safe.
Tracy Brabin Mayor of West Yorkshire

Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Berry is the West Yorkshire’s VRP Director and Head of the Women’s Safety Unit. He said: “The safety of women and girls is a golden thread that runs through every element of our work to tackle serious violent crime across West Yorkshire.

“The creation of this dedicated unit will only enhance our capabilities, ensuring a truly co-ordinated response across communities.

“We are absolutely committed to changing the attitudes and behaviours of those men and boys who cause harm and the experiences of women and girls, this latest announcement is another clear statement of our intent.”

Detective Superintendent Vanessa Rolfe, West Yorkshire Police’s Violence Against Women and Girls lead said: “We are pleased to be part of this innovative and collaborative partnership approach to tackling violence towards women and girls here in West Yorkshire.

“It cannot be underestimated how important working in partnership can be in supporting victims and providing an overall better service to our communities.

“West Yorkshire Police is committed to achieving an environment where women and girls are safe, and perpetrators are rightly brought to justice.”

The Unit will be launched today at the Women of West Yorkshire Network event, hosted by the region’s Inclusivity Champion Fatima Khan-Shah, who was appointed by Mayor Brabin as part of her pledge to achieve greater equality across West Yorkshire.

The network aims to bring women and allies from all walks of life together to connect, share their experiences and build a social movement of change for women across the region.

Gathering at the Queens Hotel in Leeds city centre, Dame Clare Gerada, co-Chair of the NHS Assembly and President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, will be among almost 100 women and allies in attendance.

Fatima Khan-Shah, West Yorkshire’s Inclusivity Champion said: “I have found Networks are crucial for professional and personal growth, and as Inclusivity Champion, I’m dedicated to giving a space for people to discuss what matters to them and help drive positive change.

“I’m delighted a trailblazer like Dame Clare Gerada will be attending our Women of West Yorkshire network event – she has paved the way for women through her career and it’s an honour to have her here.

“It’s also a great moment to highlight the work taking place in West Yorkshire to improve safety for women and girls, and to make our region fairer and safer.”