Chief Constable shares the Force plan to end VAWG in Hertfordshire

Chief Constable Charlie Hall spoke about how the constabulary is working towards ending violence against women and girls at the Soroptimist International St Albans and District Orange the World event on Monday.

He was at St Albans Museum and Gallery in the city centre speaking at the event organised during ‘16 days of activism against gender-based violence’ – also known as Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Chief Constable Hall said: “‘16 days of activism’ and Oranging the World is an international reminder of the importance of working together to end violence against women and girls. The pledge to end violence against women and girls by 2030 is an ambitious one, but one we can achieve together, and we should all actively strive to do so.

“Violence against women and girls is totally unacceptable, it is a preventable issue which blights the lives of millions. While different types of violence against women and girls have their own distinct causes and impacts on victims and survivors, what these crimes share is that they disproportionately affect women and girls.”

Mayor of St Albans City and District Anthony Rowlands, High Sheriff Liz Green and Bishop of St Albans Alan Smith also spoke at the event to help empower women.

St Albans Soroptimist Ameeta Sabharwal led the event and said: "It was wonderful that Herts Police and so many other organisations have embraced the campaign to end gender-based violence.” 

Chief Constable Hall added: “These crimes against women and girls are deeply harmful, not only because of the profound effect they can have on victims, survivors, and their loved ones, but also because of the impact they can have on wider society.

“Hertfordshire Constabulary is determined to eradicate violence against women and girls. We are supported in this mission by the national VAWG action plan, which we have based our VAWG strategy in Hertfordshire on with prevention at the heart of everything we do.”

The constabulary has a strategy to tackle VAWG by tackling perpetrators and working with partners to improve safety in public places and provide help and support to victims.

Buildings including Hatfield Police Station and the Museum and Gallery have been lit orange as part of the United Nations ‘Orange the World’ campaign to end violence against women and girls.

Led by the United Nations, 16 days of Activism started on Saturday 25 November and ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls with nearly 80,000 members in 124 countries. They work at a local, national, and international level to educate, empower, and enable opportunities for women and girls. Further information is available on the Soroptimist international (opens in a new window)