We're sorry this happened to Tracy, but the fact is the vast majority of survivors are assaulted by someone they know. More police on our streets won't make West Yorkshire safer for women - widespread preventative working and well-funded support services will.
We respect Tracy's comments here - it takes bravery to disclose what she has and what happened to her should never have happened. Unfortunately, the vast majority of survivors do not have the experience she did.
Only 1.7% of reported rapes result in trial and most don't even see a charge. Survivors frequently say their experience of reporting is 'retraumatising', and that is specifically due to their treatment by the police.
It is the Police who treat women reporting rape with disbelief and humiliation, fail to investigate their evidence, and prioritise the word of perpetrators against theirs. More police will not fix this issue, it will only make it worse.
If we want West Yorkshire to be safe for women, we need investment in widespread preventative working. This means thorough and consistent sex, relationship and consent education in schools and public health campaigns around sexual violence.
If we want West Yorkshire to be safe for women, we NEED long-term and ring-fenced funding for sexual and domestic violence services NOW.
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DEMAND 1: REMOVAL OF PLEDGES TO INCREASE POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR POWERS
DEMAND 2: A COMMITMENT TO DECRIMINALISING SEX WORK, IN LINE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SEX-WORKER LED ORGS @ukdecrimnow
and @SexWorkHive and SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE @BasisSexWork!
WE MAY HAVE DELAYED THE POLICE CRIME AND SENTENCING BILL BUT THE WORK AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE DOESN’T STOP HERE!
This friday a policeman has been spared community service after assaulting a woman because it would be "difficult for him to work with criminals”. theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/m…
This judgement implies that police officers who commit crimes are not considered criminal. It implies that police are above the law