Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner continues to launch projects and fund services to help keep women and girls safe. 

In 2021, the Home Office launched a Violence against Women and Girls Strategy with four distinct priorities. These are: prioritising prevention, supporting victims, pursuing perpetrators and strengthening the system.

Between March 3 2021 and January 31 2022, 425 sexual offences, 395 rapes, and 1982 cases of stalking and harassment were reported by women in Cumbria. For the same time period for 2020 – 2021, 268 sexual offences, 357 rapes, and 1634 cases of stalking and harassment were reported.

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, said: "The last 12 months, my office has secured just under £1million to help prevent violence against women and girls and support those who have been subjected to it.

"Ending violence against women and girls, unfortunately, is not a quick fix. It’s a long-term effort that everyone needs to work on to create a safer environment and change the perception of ‘doing nothing is the right thing’ to ‘speaking against it is the right thing."

The Safety of Women at Night funding provided £116,925 to the PCC, in November 2021, with a specific focus on Carlisle during the night-time economy. The funding paid for Crimestoppers campaigns to raise awareness around women’s safety at night.

The SWaN funding paid for the training of 17 volunteers from Cumbria University as ‘Safer Streets Volunteers’ who will be based at the new welfare hub on Saturdays from Easter onwards, outside of the train station and city centre.