DORSET Police is encouraging women and girls across the county to come forward and speak to officers if they have been the victim of violence, as part of the force’s ongoing pledge to tackle the issue. 

This comes as Dorset Police today (July 23) reaffirmed its commitment to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the county, with the Assistant Chief Inspector of Dorset Police saying they are working with as many partners as possible to achieve its ambition of reducing the number of incidents. 

The College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council revealed that over one million VAWG-related crimes were recorded nationally during 2022/23, accounting for 20% of all police recorded crime. 

While reports of rape, serious sexual offences and stalking and harassment offences have decreased in Dorset over the last year, the force says it recognises there is still work to do and remains committed to “relentlessly pursuing offenders and ensuring victims are supported and safeguarded”. 

Police leaders are calling for a whole-system approach that brings together criminal justice partners, government bodies and industry, in a new partnership that seeks to reduce the scale and impact of VAWG. 

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan, of Dorset Police, says that the answer to tackling the national issue of VAWG is by “all agencies working together in a whole system approach”. 

He said: “Areas such as domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, child abuse and exploitation, rape and sexual offending are key priorities for the force and we are determined to do all we can to protect and achieve justice for those affected. 

“I would like to reassure our communities that we already work alongside our partners, both statutory and non-statutory, as well as with our communities to achieve our ambition. 

“This approach includes coming together on community safety partnerships, a multi-agency safeguarding hub, and both adult and child safeguarding boards. 

“We fully acknowledge that a large number of offences committed against women and girls go unreported. 

“I would strongly encourage anyone who has been the victim of an offence to come forward and speak to us so we can investigate it and offer support.” 

To see what precisely the force has done to reduce VAWG in the county, visit the Dorset Police website. 

You can make a report in a variety of ways: online at www.dorset.police.uk, by calling 101 or dialling 999 if a crime is in progress. 

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.