Group helps shape response to violence against women and girls

“The VAWG Voices forum can’t change our past, but knowing that sharing our experiences can make a difference to what happens to someone else is very healing.” VAWG Voices member.

At the beginning of 2023, we reached out to women in our county to ask if they would be part of VAWG Voices – a group to consider the issue of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

After an overwhelming response, VAWG lead for the force, Detective Superintendent Suzanne Davies, held the first meeting online in February 2023. The intention was to set up an advisory group that creates a safe space for women with lived experience and knowledge to speak openly and have challenging, constructive and reflective conversations with the aim of influencing how we design and deliver our service to the public and become more inclusive as an employer.

Fast forward eighteen months and VAWG Voices has gone from strength to strength with a core group of amazing women who tell us their experiences and views to help change things for the better for the next generations. D/Supt Davies said, “It always feels like we have so much passion and energy in the room; I never underestimate the courage it takes to share your lived experience and I am always grateful for the honesty, suggestions and challenge from our group.”

“The VAWG Voices group is a safe place to speak out, but it is so much more than that. It is a place for women to be heard by people who not only understand, but who can make real changes for other women.” VAWG Voices member.

A member of the group explained the importance of the group from the perspective of a survivor. She said, “When you have experienced violence and abuse, especially gendered abuse, it can be hard to speak out and sometimes even harder for others to really hear. The VAWG Voices group is a safe place to speak out, but it is so much more than that. It is a place for women to be heard by people who not only understand, but who can make real changes for other women, from changing professional responses and reactions to abuse, to making places safer based on what makes us feel unsafe, to holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The VAWG Voices forum can’t change our past, but knowing that sharing our experiences can make a difference to what happens to someone else is very healing.”

To provide independence, D/Supt Davies asked Sara Munton, who is a member of our Independent Advisory Group for Lincolnshire police with a portfolio area of VAWG, to be the Chair of VAWG Voices. Sara said, “To have a Chair who is independent of Lincolnshire Police is incredibly important to both Suzanne and I. The group, and myself as Chair, have committed to influencing policy and procedure within the force, using the voice of experts and those with lived experience. I am confident that we are making excellent progress in this space and very much look forward to seeing this success continue.”

The group is also supported by Lara Iggulden, who is the domestic abuse operational lead for the County’s Domestic Abuse Partnership. Lara said, “Being part of the VAWG Voices group has been a privilege. Working in domestic abuse is rewarding in itself, however, being part of a group where women support each other and having lived experiences speak up, is so powerful and we’re only at the beginning of this journey.”

Some of the things VAWG Voices have been involved in so far include:

1. Forming part of a working group with the Domestic Abuse Partnership to look at what safe accommodation looks like in Lincolnshire.
2. Visiting the County Court and suggesting changes to their dedicated victim/witness room to the delivery manager which will make the victim feel safer.
3. Being part of our stop and search and use of force scrutiny panels.
4. Providing their views to the officer in charge of digital forensics in relation to how the police examine victims’ phones and the level of data which is retained.
5. Exploring what support women can expect from door staff if they have any concerns about VAWG matters on an evening out.
6. Raising awareness of the Pegasus system.
7. Providing feedback about the language and tone used within the Domestic Homicide Review bulletins.
8. Worked with our communications team to share their experience with the public in a bid to raise awareness and encourage others to come forward.

Are you interested in being a part of positive change in policing? Do you have experience as a victim or survivor of violence against women and girls? You can find out more about our VAWG Voices group here. If you have any questions, or are interested in joining the group, please email Courtney.miller@lincs.police.uk