Celebrating Bristol Women’s Achievements and Tackling Male Violence Together

This month, I had the pleasure of attending the International Women’s Day celebration at Bristol City Hall organised by Bristol Women’s Voice. Every year this event inspires and motivates me and gives me time to spend with impressive women, who work tirelessly to uplift women in our communities.  This event is one of the largest free International Women’s Day events in the UK, showcasing the incredible contributions of women who live, work, and study in our city.

From the insightful panel discussions, to the interactive workshops, to women’s organisations’ stands in the main hall, it was an extraordinary gathering of diverse voices and talents.  Inevitably, there was a lot of focus on some very difficult challenges and the concerning trends we are facing but alongside the sense of purpose we enjoyed celebrating women together and there was even a sense of fun.

Preventing Male Violence Against Women and Girls

It was a privilege for me to lead a session, do a Q&A and to participate in a panel on the prevention of male violence against women and girls (MVAWG). The panel was expertly chaired by Sophia James, a trustee of Bristol Women’s Voice, and I was joined by an incredible group of speakers, including:

• Sarah O’Leary, representing Next Link, Safe Link, and Missing Link
• Nicola Shannon, from The Bridge Sexual Assault Referral Centre
• Lorri Weaving, of Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service

Some of the things I spoke about and that came up in the Q&A  and panel discussion were the new pilot on changing the Avon and Somerset Police’s approach to responding to Domestic Abuse, what is being done to address spiking, and the proactive measures we are taking in Avon and Somerset to create safer communities.

Avon and Somerset Police led the country in changing the policing approach to rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO), which has led to higher charge and conviction rates for these crimes, now known as Operation Soteria.  The 6 pillars of that approach are now being focused onto the crime of domestic abuse, which is 20% of reported crime.  We are a long way from a perfect world in responding to these crimes but it is vital to continue to strive to improve and this new project is another step on that journey.

We also discussed the innovative measures being implemented to tackle spiking. Locally, the police Operation Vigilant deploys plainclothes and uniformed patrols in busy night time areas with lots of bars and clubs, where male violence can occur more often, to identify and disrupt patterns of suspicious behaviour.

I am also funding a bystander intervention training programme in collaboration with Night Time Economy Solutions (NTE Solutions). This free programme empowers those working in pubs, nightclubs, and other hospitality venues to recognise and intervene in potentially harmful situations. It’s a step towards ensuring the safety of everyone in our communities.

A Shared Commitment

Days like International Women’s Day remind us of the importance of collaboration in driving change. I was inspired by the strength, creativity, and resilience of the women of Bristol, and felt privileged to be alongside them in my role to create safer and more equitable communities.