White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for people to stand up, speak out and say no to violence against women. This year it's more important than ever with a significant increase in violence, harassment and abuse towards women during the coronavirus pandemic. 

PCC John Campion is supporting White Ribbon Day by producing a series of special edition podcasts focussing on domestic abuse, including interviews with those that have experienced first-hand the devastating impact domestic abuse can have, and those are there to help and support victims.

John Campion talks to Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK. A leading charity, spanning across 60 countries, that aims to prevent and stop male violence against women. Anthea talks about how a violent and tragic shooting targeting women on a campus in Canada in 1989 inspired a group of male leaders to want to make a difference and change male violence against women. In 1991 White Ribbon was born and has spread worldwide.

Anthea talks about how the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown period has contributed to the rise in domestic violence and why, during  a period of isolation it's so vital that men reach out to their friendship groups. Only by empowering men to make a difference, by spotting the signs that might concern them, and knowing where to go for help, can real change be achieved.

Wearing the white ribbon is a visual symbol of support for the campaign, and can help to start the meaningful conversations that really matter.

White Ribbon: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/

West Mercia Women's Aid: 0800 980 3331 http://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/ 

White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for people to stand up, speak out and say no to violence against women. This year it's more important than ever with a significant increase in violence, harassment and abuse towards women during the coronavirus pandemic. 

PCC John Campion is supporting White Ribbon Day by producing a series of special edition podcasts focussing on domestic abuse, including interviews with those that have experienced first-hand the devastating impact domestic abuse can have, and those are there to help and support victims.

In this edition PCC John Campion talks to domestic abuse risk officer, Donna Wailes about her work to safeguard victims by reducing or removing the risk and providing support.

Donna explains how friends and family can be key in spotting the signs of abuse, and how they can best support their loved ones through the journey of recovery.

White Ribbon: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/

West Mercia Women's Aid: 0800 980 3331 http://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/ 

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White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for people to stand up, speak out and say no to violence against women. This year it's more important than ever with a significant increase in violence, harassment and abuse towards women during the coronavirus pandemic. 
 
 PCC John Campion is supporting White Ribbon Day by producing a series of special edition podcasts focussing on domestic abuse, including interviews with those that have experienced first-hand the devastating impact domestic abuse can have, and those are there to help and support victims.

In this edition PCC John Campion speaks to Nick Gazzard, father of Hollie Gazzard who was brutally murdered by her ex-partner in 2014, whilst at her workplace in Gloucester. 

After his devastating loss Nick went on to found the Hollie Gazzard Trust in memory of Hollie. The trust educates young people to recognise the signs of coercive control, stalking and domestic abuse, and how to identify unhealthy relationship behaviours.

Hollie Gazzard Trust: https://holliegazzard.org/
White Ribbon: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/
West Mercia Women's Aid: 0800 980 3331 http://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/ 

John Campion speaks to Lee Barton and Nigel  Webster from the West Mercia roads policing team about how the public are becoming increasingly involved in capturing and reporting road traffic offences. With an estimated 4 to 5 million dash cams on the UK's roads,  there is an ideal opportunity for photographs and footage of offences to be captured whilst people go about their daily commute. 

Op Snap has revolutionised roads policing. Invented in Wales, the innovation is now prevalent across the UK and provides a quick and  efficient way of reporting and assessing road traffic offences. 

Find out more: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/operationsnap 

PCC John Campion talks to Rosie Jarvis, national programme lead for the Drive Project and Lisa Ignoscia, service manager for Cranstoun about the Drive Project.

More than two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales. One in every three crimes of violenceare domestic abuse related and one in four perpetrators re-offend, often over time and with several partners. 

Drive works to end domestic abuse and protect victims by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of high-harm, high-risk, and serial perpetrators.

http://driveproject.org.uk/ 

PCC John Campion talks to student police officer Simon Redman about police recruitment and training and his aspirations for his future. 

Simon is 36 and has been in training for around a year, he talks to John about his experience of joining the police force,  training with Dyslexia and the best routes for entry.  Simon, who spent his early career as an electrician,  also explains how one single episode in his life gave him the inspiration to join up as a volunteer special officer, and later, the will to apply four times to become a regular officer. 

West Mercia Police has successfully recruited an additional 105 officers, and is on target to recruit 93 officers by March 2021, meaning that it  has 116 more officers than this time last year.

Find out more about joining West Mercia Police: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/police-forces/west-mercia-police/areas/west-mercia/ca/careers/

PCC John Campion talks to West Mercia Police Cyber Protect Officer James Squire about the alarming increase in romance fraud, not only across the UK but also in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

Romance fraud has increased this year, as more people spend time at home and online as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. The average loss a person experiences due to romance fraud is £15,000, leaving the victim with significant financial loss as well as the emotional loss of the relationship they thought they had. 

James explains how to look out for the signs that you are talking to someone that might have dishonourable intentions, and what to do if you have been a victim of romance fraud.

You can find out more on the Action Fraud website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/dating-fraud 

PCC John Campion speaks to PCSO Aidan Goundry of the Droitwich Safer Neighbourhood Team. Aidan talks about why he decided to become a PCSO and what a typical day looks like.

PCSOs are the eyes and ears within their locality and are responsible for building relationships with the community and with partners, such as schools and housing associations. PCSOs are there to help to solve problems in the community and to promote safety. 

You can get in touch with your local PCSOs via the West Mercia Police website https://www.westmercia.police.uk/a/your-area/ 

PCC, John Campion talks to Inspector Ram Aston about the successes of the We Don't Buy Crime initiative, and how it has helped thousands of people protect themselves from crime in West Mercia. 
 
Find out how the forensic property marking technology, SmartWater, has made communities safer, right across the three counties as more towns and villages are safer and more protected. Find out what the future of crime prevention holds, and how more businesses, second-hand stores and fuel stations will be protected in the future.
 
Inspector Aston also gives advice about crime prevention and how communities can benefit from the initiative and access SmartWater.
 
For more information, visit: https://wedontbuycrime.co.uk/

PCC John Campion talks to Chief Superintendent Tom Harding about the way policing has changed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Superintendent Harding explains how West Mercia Police has worked closely with communities to engage, explain and encourage adherence to the new legislation, how officers have continued to work with businesses and individuals to prevent crime, and how crimes have changed during the lockdown period. 

 Find out why the public's information has played a vital role in enabling the force to build intelligence on crime, and how this has been used to tackle crime in communities, as well as how the force will progress through the period of easing lockdown restrictions.