Essex PFCC shows support for White Ribbon Day

Essex PFCC shows support for White Ribbon Day to help break the cycle of domestic abuse

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Roger Hirst, Essex Police Chief officers and other senior leaders are supporting this year’s White Ribbon Day by making their own pledges to continue to tackle and reduce violence against women – something that remains a top priority for Roger Hirst and Essex Police.

White Ribbon is a global campaign that encourages people, especially men and boys, to take action and change the behaviour and culture that leads to abuse and violence, both individually and collectively.

This year’s White Ribbon Day aims to encourage individuals and organisations to make consistent choices and actions to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls, so that they may live their lives free from the fear of violence.

Roger Hirst has promised to support this important day as well as the 16 days of activism that follow.

Roger said: “We want to create safe and secure communities and reducing violence against women and girls is one of the key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan 2021-24. Male violence against women and girls is never acceptable.

“We have made great progress and the very latest figures show big falls in violence (-12 per cent) and domestic abuse (-17.2 per cent) and we are working to keep them falling.”

The PFCC is committed to breaking the cycle of domestic abuse and has:

• Funded awareness campaigns with businesses and J9 community DA awareness programme
• Invested over £20m since 2016
• Invested £1.6m in DA victim services in 2023-24
• Funded 15 additional Domestic Abuse advocates (IDVAs) in 2023-4 bringing us to 36 total IDVAs

The PFCC has also funded the Domestic Abuse Awareness in the Workplace Now (DAAWN) project in partnership with Essex Police, Essex Chambers of Commerce and Practical HR Ltd.

The project aims to engage with the business community to help them raise awareness about domestic abuse among their employees. A short project pilot was held in 2022 which saw 33 SMEs take part, with awareness information made available to 2,498 employees.

 

If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing domestic abuse, you can get help through the following organisations.

Essex Police – always call 999 in an emergency – How to report domestic abuse | Essex Police

Compass – 0330 333 7444 – Essex Compass

Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Partnership  Southend and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Partnership | Home (setdab.org)

The Change Project The Change Project – Relationships: Counselling & Domestic Violence (thechange-project.org)