A survey has been launched for women and girls to tell Cumbria police how safe they feel in the county.
The online survey wants people’s opinions on topics including how they feel in their own homes, neighbourhoods and towns – and includes questions about their own experiences.
Cumbria Constabulary said it will use the information to help inform its services as part of ongoing work to address the national issue of violence against women and girls.
A police spokesman said: ” The work so far on this issue has seen positive results that means Cumbria has been a leading force nationally in the last year.
“Since April 2022, Cumbria has been ranked either first or second in the country for convictions at court in relation to violence against women and girls offences, with an average of between 84 per cent and nearly 87 per cent ending in a guilty plea or verdict.
Detective Superintendent Sally Blaiklock said: “Violence against women and girls is unacceptable. In Cumbria Constabulary, we all wish to deliver an outstanding service and keep all people safe.
“In this respect, violence against women and girls is no different and we are always looking to see how we can get better and improve our services for the sake of our communities in Cumbria.
“Feeling unsafe is obviously not an experience exclusive to women and girls. But sexual violence and harassment offences are overwhelmingly committed by males against females.
“We believe we have made great progress in improving how we deal with these offences and issues.
“We have implemented a range of measures, operations and activities to make women and girls feel safer and to deter these crimes and tackle the perpetrators of these offences.
“The conviction rates achieved by our work with the CPS putting cases before the courts also shows how seriously we take these offences and the work that goes into cases.
“Cumbria is one of the safest places to live. However, these crimes do happen here. They can happen behind closed doors or in public places, online or in the real world.
“We have carried out a lot of work to address the issue of violence against women and girls and we believe this survey will be our latest tool to help our drive to constantly improve.”
The constabulary has created a dedicated operational violence against women and girls detective inspector post.
Detective Inspector Matt Belshaw was appointed in July last year. He reports to Det Supt Blaiklock.
DI Belshaw has 20 years experience as a police officer, including 18 as a detective, holding specialist roles in areas of policing such as child exploitation and public protection as well as with the Home Office investigating international human trafficking of women and girls.
This role provides operational oversight for crime investigation, officer and staff development, proactive deterrence and preventative operations.
He also co-ordinates partnership working.
Case study – Keswick to Threlkeld Trail
In September 2022, police received a report about a lone woman being approached on the trail by a man. She felt very frightened.
A spokesman said: “The walk was added to a patrol plan. The public safety information that followed challenged inappropriate behaviour by males towards women and girls.”
DI Belshaw met with the mayor of Keswick and members of the local authority to plan for better lighting along the route to minimise the fear of violence in women and girls.
This followed reports from schoolgirls to the council suggesting they were scared to use the path.
Crime prevention officers were asked to prepare a report into better lighting.
Det Supt Blaiklock said: “Everyone should be safe and feel safe, no matter where they are.
“We support all departments across the constabulary to ensure they have the tools and knowledge they need to effectively identify and tackle these crimes.
“We also work with partners across Cumbria, such as schools and colleges and women’s support centres, to listen to the issues experienced and to offer opportunities such as education, support, reporting and, where appropriate, looking at what extra needs to be done to tackle crime.”
The survey, which is completely anonymous, is available at: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/LSYSYC/
It will run until April 2.
