National White Ribbon campaign comes to north
Wales
The Portsmouth White Ribbon Group contacted
all Domestic Abuse Lead Officer's and seven London Boroughs late
last year to invite interested parties to take part in the first
ever White Ribbon UK Relay 2012. The idea is to pass a White
Ribbon Baton from city to city during Euro 2012 and in the lead up
to the Olympic Games.
White Ribbon is a global campaign to ensure
that men take more responsibility for reducing the level of
violence against women. The National White Ribbon Relay is sending
the baton around Britain and holding events to increase
understanding of the impact sporting events have on the occurrence
and nature of violence. The relay has been organised in partnership
with frontline service providers across the country and partnership
response advocates, Standing Together against Domestic Violence and
White Ribbon UK.
Michelle Davidson-Beck, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Lead
Officer from the Conwy and Denbighshire Community Safety
Partnership (CSP) has successfully secured the passage of the baton
into North Wales. This will be the “Ribbon’s” only excursion
into Wales and it will start from our Country’s newest city, St
Asaph and travel through into Cheshire on Wednesday July 4th
2012.
The Welsh Leg of the “White Ribbon UK Relay” will start from North
Wales Police Divisional HQ on St Asaph Business Park at 12.45pm and
will be carried in relay by a team of 15 runners who are serving or
retired NWP Officers and Staff or members of the Community safety
Partnership. The North Wales Women's Centre Choir, Rhyl will
serenade the runners as they leave St Asaph to run in relays the
26.1 miles to Deeside Police Station where they will hand the
“White Ribbon” onto a North Wales Police motorcyclist who will
carry the baton on the final leg into Cheshire.
Detective Superintendent John Hanson North Wales Police lead in
Strategic Public Protection, and one of the runners taking part
said “This is a very worthwhile cause and one which North Wales
Police as part of the CSP fully support. Raising awareness is
a key factor in helping reduce and eradicate all forms of violence
against women. It is totally unacceptable that in the UK two
women a week are killed at the hands of a partner or ex partner,
45% of women have experienced some form of domestic violence,
sexual assault or stalking and at least 80,000 women are victims of
rape every year.”
Michelle Davidson-Beck who organised the local leg added her full
support saying “1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men suffer from domestic
abuse every year and around 85% of forced marriage victims are
women. All agencies have a responsibility to provide a
coordinated response through effective partnership working to
tackle the crimes of domestic abuse and sexual violence. This
event is a fine example of partnership working in raising awareness
of this heinous crime"
The National Campaign Manager for White Ribbon UK added “ We think
the Relay is an excellent way of bringing people together to stand
up against violence against women and girls. We expect it, and the
many different local events associated with it, will help raise
awareness of this widespread issue that blights many people’s lives
and is still largely a taboo subject. Any initiative like this is
really welcome. Well done to our Portsmouth supporters for
organising it!”
Links for info White Ribbon UK - info@whiteribboncampaign.co.uk
Further advice and guidance is available through the National
Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 or by visiting http://www.stalkinghelpline.org/
You need Wales DA & SV helpline 0808 80 10
800
People can follow the progress of the baton on
Facebook and Twitter:
Facebook – National White Ribbon Relay
Twitter - @southsea_ribbon
If you suspect someone is suffering at the
hands of a violent partner contact North Wales Police on 101 or
anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 