Looking back, the Lichfield Community Safety Partnership’s Community Safety Delivery Plan and Community Safety Strategy (2022-2025) identified six key priorities:
* Domestic abuse
* Violence against women and girls (VAWG)
* Anti-social behaviour
* County lines
* Serious violence
* Crime prevention
These were areas where partners committed resources to reduce incidents, reduce harm and support vulnerable residents.
Domestic Abuse
The Community Safety Delivery Plan recognised domestic abuse as one of the highest-risk issues facing local communities and one of the largest demands on partner agencies. The district’s approach focuses on:
* Supporting victims and survivors.
* Early identification of abuse.
* Multi-agency working between council services, police, health organisations and specialist support providers.
* Reducing harm and protecting vulnerable adults and children.
* Increasing awareness and access to support services.
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
The Delivery Plan stated that the partnership recognised the need for a “clear and unequivocal Lichfield response” to violence against women and girls and committed to developing and strengthening its response.
The council subsequently adopted a stronger public position on VAWG, including commitments to:
* Work with survivors and local support organisations.
* Develop local strategies and action plans.
* Work with police, education providers, housing services, health services and community organisations.
* Appoint a VAWG champion.
* Obtain White Ribbon Accreditation and promote cultural change around violence towards women and girls.
The council’s VAWG commitments specifically referenced working with education partners to meet the needs of survivors and help challenge attitudes that contribute to violence against women and girls.
Matt Allman, Chief Education Officer, said: “The plan undertook a great deal of work on these topics and it very much flagged that the issues of domestic / gender-based violence remain very much alive in our local community. Schools play a significant part in helping children growing into adults who recognise the scourge that is such violence, and to support those children and families afflicted by this problem. Thought the Lichfield District Council Plan has now been completed, our Trust and schools retain a sharp focus on these issues and our work continues.”
