Unveiling the region’s new Women’s Safety Unit – International Women’s Day 2024

A first-of-its-kind dedicated unit has been set up by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin to tackle violence against women and girls in the region.

Speaking at an event to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Mayor and her Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, will be unveiling the region’s new Women’s Safety Unit.

A national first, the team is a pioneering partnership and will comprise of members from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the county’s Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), and West Yorkshire Police.

This innovative development comes a year after Baroness Louise Casey’s review into the Metropolitan Police, which found institutional sexism, racism, and homophobia within the force. Speaking after its publication, Baroness Casey questioned why the effective approach to reducing knife crime and serious violence – through fully funded Violence Reduction Units within affected communities – isn’t deployed when tackling gender violence. Mayor Tracy Brabin is acting to rectify this as part of her mission to keep women and girls safe.

Launching as a 12-month pilot, the dedicated unit will support the delivery of the Mayor’s Safety of Women and Girls Strategy, which sets out a long-term plan to bring about change, focusing on themes spanning education, prevention, and tackling inappropriate behaviours.

Mayor Brabin said: “Here in West Yorkshire, we're leading the way in tackling violence against women and girls.

“I’m delighted to announce the establishment of our Women’s Safety Unit, a ground-breaking collaboration of experts committed to long-term change.

“I want every woman and girl in our region to know that we’re here for you, we’re fighting your corner, and we will not stop until each and every one of you feel safe.”

Since its creation in November 2022, a number of milestones from the Mayor’s Safety of Women and Girls Strategy have been achieved, including:

• The launch of the #JustDont campaign, targeting everyday harassment and inappropriate male behaviour towards women and girls, and empowering men and boys to become allies. Since September 2023, the campaign’s powerful video has been viewed over 3 and a half million times.
• The creation of national guidance outlining how to make parks and green spaces safer for women and girls, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, Make Space for Girls, and Keep Britain Tidy.
• Over £950,000 of cash previously associated with criminal activities has been awarded to community projects tackling violence against women and girls through the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, bringing the total to over £1.3 million since 2021.

The Women’s Safety Unit will continue to build upon these achievements and will focus on improving outcomes for victims across West Yorkshire.