Met Police give help on protecting women and girls

Senior Metropolitan Police officers have visited Guernsey to share advice on how to make the island safer for women and girls.

Women's safety leads from the force spoke about reducing harassment, sexual offences and gender-based violence at a conference organised by Guernsey Police on 5 March.

Representatives from senior government committees including Home Affairs, Education, Health & Social Care, and the charitable sector were in attendance.

Det Insp Tom Lowe from Guernsey Police said the event was an "important step toward a more coordinated, capable and confident response to violence against women and girls (VAWG)".

Guernsey Police said the purpose of the event was to "strengthen Guernsey's collective response to VAWG by improving understanding, coordination, and capability across all partner organisations".

Metropolitan Police Supt Clare McCarthy and Insp Reshma Sher spoke about the force's strategic objectives and local operations.

Also at the event was the Women's Safety Lead from Redbridge Council, Sharna Ahmed, who spoke about how the council made significant progress in making public spaces safer for women.

Lowe said: "Our aim was simple, to bring partners together to enhance how we prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) and how we protect those most at risk.

"By learning from successful initiatives like ThisHasToStop, Step In, Operation Verona and Operation Vigilant, and by showcasing the strong work already underway locally, we have strengthened our shared approach.

"By improving our understanding of key initiatives, deepening partnerships, and identifying future training needs, we have taken an important step toward a more coordinated, capable and confident response to VAWG across the bailiwick."

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