Improving safety for women and girls is crucial - not optional

As Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a priority and a key part of my Police and Crime Plan. My commitment is simple; victims must be heard, believed and supported, and perpetrators must be robustly pursued.

During No More Week, we are reminded that abuse in all its forms thrives in silence. Campaigns such as this are important, but meaningful change requires consistent effort all year round. That is why our work goes beyond awareness; it is about prevention, early intervention, enforcement and listening to those with lived experience so that our response reflects the reality faced by women and girls across Dorset.

The Women’s Independent Advisory Group (IAG) at Dorset Police exemplifies that approach. By creating a forum for challenge, scrutiny and collaboration, the Force has opened its doors to voices which might previously have gone unheard. An Independent Advisory Group is not a tick box exercise; it provides real accountability and improvement through constructive challenge.

Today, I am delighted to introduce Inspector Nicola Chalstrey to tell you more about the Women’s IAG and the vital work they are doing. It truly shows how partnership, transparency and a willingness to listen can drive change.

“I set up the Women’s Independent Advisory Group at Dorset Police in 2024, when our Violence Against Women and Girls strategy was being re-written, recognising there was a gap in public involvement. At that point, we had ambition, but we didn’t yet have a structured way to directly hear from women and girls across the county. The IAG began with just four members. Today, we have more than 40.

“Building the IAG to what it is today has been a labour of love. An IAG is intended to act as a “critical friend” to policing, and naturally, it takes time to build that trust, especially when it comes to a subject as important as violence against women and girls. I reached out to partners including Bournemouth University, local women’s refuges, and colleagues in children’s and adult social care, also using existing networks, including work linked to the Race Action Plan, initiatives such as the Pineapple Project, licensing and community contacts across the Force. Word of mouth has since become our strongest asset and now we have people approaching us asking to be involved. That shift reflects growing confidence in the group and its influence.

A turning point was our first face-to-face meeting as it transformed engagement. The IAG exists to tell us what we may not normally see and hear and it’s been great to see people expressing their opinions and feeling comfortable to talk about their experiences. As a police officer, my perception of risk is different to those outside of policing, so listening to women describe where they feel unsafe in Dorset has been instructive and insightful. Concerns about lighting, CCTV, taxi ranks, and group running routes have all been fed back to help bring about changes.

We ensure there is always an action trail. Feedback is directed to neighbourhood policing teams, senior leaders, partner agencies and MPs, and we bring those results back so members can see tangible outcomes. Their input has helped to shape media messaging and build a language package as part of our work with officers around appropriate language in domestic abuse and sexual offence investigations.

The Women’s IAG is making a difference within Dorset Police. We cannot police in isolation and if we do not understand what genuinely makes women and girls feel unsafe, we risk solving the wrong problems. This work ensures we act on lived experience, not assumption, and that is making a real difference.

Thank you, Inspector Chalstrey for all the work you are doing – it is truly valuable and appreciated. I am particularly pleased about the IAG’s focus on practical outcomes - from influencing language in domestic abuse and sexual offence investigations, to identifying what affects women’s safety in our towns and communities. This work, along with police-led operations such as Operation Vigilant, which identifies suspects who pose a risk to women and girls and increased foot patrols with Operations Nighthawk and Nightjar among many others, demonstrate Dorset Police’s determination to place victims at the centre of their work, building public confidence.

I welcome this progress and remain resolute in my support for this work, because improving safety for women and girls is not optional - it is crucial.

David Sidwick

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner