Policing in Wales Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Taskforce
The Policing in Wales* VAWDASV taskforce, established in 2021, brings together lead agencies to challenge attitudes and behaviours across Wales with the aim of rebuilding women’s trust that policing will always protect and respect them.
The Taskforce is jointly chaired by Emma Wools (Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for South Wales) and Eleri Thomas (Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for Gwent), with Gwent Police Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman as the operational lead.
It is focused upon the development of a zero-tolerance culture, where the police officers and staff who serve communities across Wales are encouraged and empowered to call out sexist, misogynistic, racist, homophobic and all discriminatory attitudes wherever they see or hear them.
At a time when we are working to build public confidence in the ability of policing to effectively tackle violence again women and girls, it is imperative that the character of those people who serve to protect them is rightly under scrutiny. Each day the vast majority of officers deliver an exceptional service to the public and we must not allow the minority to dominate public perception.
Recognising that misogyny is an issue which cuts across our communities, the Taskforce is working with partners including Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and other criminal justice agencies to ensure that the message is heard across Wales. In doing so, we acknowledge the key role we have to play in driving the development and delivery of the new National Strategy to stop violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as supporting the implementation of a blueprint approach for Wales.
All key updates in relation to the Taskforce can be found below:
*Policing in Wales is a strategic group consisting of the Police & Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables of the four Welsh police forces, as well as key members of their own teams. It aims to identify opportunities and pursue opportunities to collaborate, seeks to improve the service provided to communities across Wales and provides a platform through which to collectively represent Welsh policing during engagement with partners such as Welsh Government.