Rushcliffe

WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN. Rushcliffe Borough Council has given its backing to the White Ribbon Campaign, supporting the ending of men’s violence against women and girls.

In a year when COVID-19 has seen the demand for domestic abuse helpline and charities surge by up to a third, the authority is seeking to help the national drive to raise awareness of the issue.

It saw male workers across the Council prominently wearing white ribbons today ( Wednesday) to show their support for the campaign including Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods Coun. Rob Inglis.

Domestic abuse is not just physical violence, it can also be psychological, financial, emotional and controlling or coercive behaviour.

It is important that those in these situations reach out to family, friends or others they trust, and, in an emergency, residents should call the police on 999.

Coun. Inglis said: “The easiest way to show support for the White Ribbon campaign is to wear a white ribbon every day. It’s a great way to start a conversation about the campaign in the movement to end male violence against women.

“While anyone can experience domestic abuse or sexual violence, the majority of victims and survivors are women who have experienced abuse by a man.

“Domestic Abuse is the most prevalent form of gender-based violence, with one in four women experiencing domestic abuse from a man.

“As incidents of domestic violence and abuse rose drastically during lockdown, this year’s White Ribbon campaign is especially important.

“Not all men are violent towards women but all men can help stop it. Please play your part.”

Take the pledge to ‘Never commit, condone, excuse or remain silent about Male Violence against women’.

In the UK 38,000 people have already taken the pledge. Join them at https:// www.whiteribbon.org.uk/ promise

Meanwhile Rushcliffe businesses and organisations are continuing to be encouraged to sign up to free J9 Domestic Abuse mission training to increase understanding and awareness surrounding the issue.

The initiative was set up in memory of Janine Mundy (AKA J9), a mother of two, who was killed by her estranged husband.

It aims to provide training to staff in the public and voluntary sectors to increase understanding and awareness, equipping learners to respond appropriately and effectively to survivors of abuse and signpost them to access support.

Once staff have been J9 trained, the J9 logo is displayed on the organisation’s premises, letting survivors know that they have a safe place to access information and use a telephone to contact support services.

For more information please email communitysafety@ rushcliffe.gov.uk

CRIME UPDATE. Rushcliffe police inspector Craig Berry has told local residents that from a policing and investigation perspective they are aware of an on-going problem with shed and outbuilding burglary and theft overnight in the northern cluster wards areas of Rushcliffe.

“We are linking all crimes that fit into this description and reviewing investigation and intelligence opportunities for each. We are utilising the local and wider ANPR network to assist with identifying suspect vehicles and tracking their activity against crime locations. We have profiled local criminals who commit this type of offence and are developing intelligence and where appropriate managing them with home visits.

“We are also doing intelligence related activity that may result in enforcement (arrests and warrants) on a number of individuals of interest who may be travelling on to the area from further afield.

“We have circulated a number of crime prevention messages aimed at the Parishes and residents of the villages concerned. We particularly need help in the early reporting of suspicious vehicles and activity to give us the chance to catch them. We need details and descriptions of suspicious vehicles in particular vans, including registration plates details, which are likely involved in the overnight shed and outbuilding burglaries.

“We are also asking residents and businesses to look closely at their own security and to consider how secure these buildings are and what valuables are kept inside. In most cases it is power tools and machinery that is being stolen so could these items be better secured and property marked? Does the building have an alarm and is the CCTV working and of value?”

Police officers, including the new Rushcliffe Reacher team, are working a number of nightshifts between now and Christmas to specifically target this issue. They will utilise support from operational support and the force drone.