Women and Girls Express Their Views on Public Safety

Many speak out at Metropolitan Police event in Roehampton

Fleur Anderson (second right) talks to attendees at the public meeting

January 26, 2024

A significant number of women and girls from the local community turned up at a public meeting in Roehampton this Thursday (25 January) to share their views on public safety with the Metropolitan Police.

The event organised as part of the ‘A New Met for London’ initiative and was held discuss the epidemic of violence against women and girls and the action needed to tackle it.

Putney’s MP Fleur Anderson was in attendance and addressed the meeting joining the BCU Commander for South West Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Clair Kelland, Superintendent David Bannister, Wandsworth Independent Advisory Group Chair Larry Davis and Richmond and Wandsworth Violence Against Women and Girls Community Forum.

Local police outlined their plans for policing in Roehampton, Putney and Wandsworth, listened to feedback from attendees and discussed their mission for making Wandsworth a safe place for women and girls to work and live.

Many women spoke about their safety concerns walking home in Putney and in Roehampton and on the University campuses. The big message from the police was to report crimes on 999 if urgent or otherwise on 101 or online and crimes can now even be reported on X (previously known as Twitter).

The biggest concern was widespread, often not reported and rising cases of spiking in Wandsworth and across London. Drink-spiking offences have more than quadrupled in London over five years, according to Metropolitan Police data. At the beginning of 2018 there were 497 recorded offences, rising to 2,066 by the end of 2022 and they are still going up. But not only spiking drinks, injections and vape spiking has also become an ever-bigger problem.

Ms Anderson said, “I welcome the new openness by the police and their focus on tackling violence against women and girls. We've heard from many local people about concerns regarding spiking, walking home, action on domestic violence and what prevents people from reporting crimes.

“I am very glad to hear that the number of senior police staff in Putney, Southfields and Roehampton are increasing and there is rising confidence in the police and support for more events like this across the constituency.

“I have been campaigning against violence against women and girls for decades and it is devastating that there is still so much to be done. Women and girls must be safe and feel safe on our streets, at home and online.

“7% of women aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed, while 80% of women of all ages said they had experienced sexual harassment in public spaces. A woman dies at the hands of a man every three days.

“I am glad to be working with the Wandsworth police team, London police team and Wandsworth Council on how we can improve the safety of women and girls.

“Violence against women and girls is not a ‘women’s issue’ it is a societal issue and can only be tackled with commitment from all groups within society.”

‘A New Met for London’ is the two-year plan on how the Met intends to deliver more trust, less crime, and high standards. The Putney MP said it was clear from what Clair Kelland said in her remarks at the violence against women and girls event that this commitment is being taken seriously.

Clair Kelland added, “We’ve lost the trust of our local communities because of the likes of David Carrick, Wayne Couzens and more. There is a real sense of shame that one of our colleagues could commit such heinous acts right under our noses. My absolute priority is to correct this culture, and this starts with how we treat each other. Trust is about understanding the communities we serve.”

Superintendent David Bannister said, “We have a plan on violence against women and girls but now it is time for delivery. Our role is simple, to look after the public as if they are our family and friends and do it with pride.”

The Met Police Violence against women and girls action plan is here.

Wandsworth Council has published its new three-year strategy to help prevent violence against women and girls. It has four key priority areas to bring about a cultural shift leading to long-term change in men’s attitudes, ensure that agencies can identify and respond to abuse, provide appropriate safety and support for victims and tackle perpetrators. You can read more about it here.