By Lucy Caulkett-
An officer described as a role model for police officers who was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in the 2020 honours list will lead representatives from across several police forces to attend a two day national conference in Coventry on May 15 and 16
Nominated for being a “truly inspiring officer in policing”, Superintendent Manjit Atwal QPM, who joined the force in 1996 has been giving the honour to lead the team that will preside over developing a sustainable strategy to address crimes committed against women.
In her time, she has worked in 18 different areas of policing – including neighbourhood policing, youth offending, operational planning, intelligence gathering and counter terrorism. She is also a nationally trained hostage and crisis negotiator.
Until July 2019 she had spent more than two years as the Commander of the City Neighbourhood Policing Area before taking up roles working with partners to help tackle and prevent serious violent crime.
Superintendent Manjit will lead more than 200 officers and police staff from across England and Wales will gather next week to discuss changing police culture for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Organised by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the aim of the conference is to improve internal culture and conduct and help force professional standards leads share innovative learning and practice.
Since the creation of the joint College of Policing/NPCC VAWG taskforce 18 months ago, policing has worked hard to develop and implement national and local action plans to address the issue.
This second VAWG conference aims to build on this work and demonstrate policing’s “increased commitment” to ensuring the service maximises its approach towards VAWG through knowledge sharing.
Superintendent Manjit Atwal QPM, head of delivery for VAWG at the College of Policing and a speaker at the conference, described the response within policing for the conference as “outstanding”.
She said: “A lot of hard work has been done in preparation by colleagues at the college to attract representatives from every force. We’ll also have specialist speakers and over 200 delegates who are highly motivated to tackle difficult questions and share best practice.
“We’ll be examining culture within policing so police forces can stand jointly together and openly discuss what works and what doesn’t.
“It’s only by being reflective and not passive we can change some of the culture within policing, and this conference represents another small step in the right direction.
“It’s an outstanding response to an extremely important issue and demonstrates how VAWG is near the top of every force’s agenda, and we are making tangible progress.”
Agenda sessions include Chief Constable Andy Marsh, chief executive officer at the College of Policing, analysing culture, while the joint event will be opened by Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, NPCC lead for VAWG.
Delegates will also hear from Lincolnshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Davison (Crime and Specialist Operations), and West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, will also be contributing, as well as Gavin Stephens, chief constable of Surrey Police and the NPCC chair.
Violence against women and girls is a pervasive problem that affects millions of people around the world. From physical assault and sexual harassment to domestic violence and human trafficking, women and girls face a range of threats to their safety and well-being every day. Despite the progress made in recent years, this problem persists, and many women and girls continue to suffer in silence.
One of the key goals of the conference is to raise awareness about the extent of violence against women and girls and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. Through discussions, workshops, and presentations, participants will learn about the different forms of violence that women and girls experience and the long-term consequences of these experiences.
They will also learn about the cultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to violence against women and girls, such as gender inequality, poverty, and harmful cultural practices.
Challenges
One of the key challenges in addressing violence against women and girls is the lack of reliable data and information on the extent of the problem. Many incidents of violence against women and girls go unreported, and those that are reported may not be accurately recorded or investigated. The conference will therefore also focus on the importance of data collection and analysis in addressing this problem.
Participants will discuss the various methods for collecting data on violence against women and girls, including surveys, focus groups, and other research methods. They will also explore ways to improve data collection and analysis, such as through the use of technology and innovative data visualization tools.
One police officer also attended the conference anonymously told The Eye Of Media.Com:
”The conference is also expected to highlight the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing violence against women and girls. Many forms of violence against women and girls are transnational, and therefore require a coordinated response at the global level. Participants will discuss the role of international organizations, governments, and civil society in promoting and implementing effective policies and programs to address this problem.
It will provide a platform for women and girls to share their stories and experiences of violence, and to advocate for their rights and interests. By amplifying the voices of women and girls who have been directly impacted by violence, the conference will highlight the urgency of this problem and the need for immediate action”.