Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn has said the numbers of VAWG and hate crimes recorded locally are “simply too high” and that a culture change is needed.
She held a round-table discussion at Grimsby’s Centre4 on rising incidents of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Crimes recorded as violence against women and girls rose by 26 per cent in 2023/24 in North East Lincolnshire. In the first eight months of 2024, 2,212 arrests were made for violence against women and girls in Humberside, with 3,117 for domestic violence.
“We had a really positive discussion,” Ms Onn said of the round table. Representatives from North East Lincolnshire Council, Humberside Police, the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, the probation service, and victims’ support organisations attended. Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG, Jess Phillips MP, attended virtually to talk through the national VAWG programme.
Ms Onn said it would help develop “a concrete plan of action” on VAWG. Asked what had come out of it, she said: “This is the very first meeting, and I think what I’ve taken away from it is that there are existing organisations that already have plans in place.” The meeting focused on information sharing, “identifying where there are gaps in services, and where we can make those improvements that will make people’s lives safer in North East Lincolnshire.”
At a recent council committee, there was uncertainty over whether the increase in recorded VAWG and domestic abuse crime reflected increased willingness to report or an actual rise in incidents. “Is it because women and girls feel suddenly much more confident in a system where, actually, when it comes to reported rapes, very few reach the point of prosecution or conviction?” asked Ms Onn, giving her view.
“I would tend to lean towards the fact that it is more likely that rates are on the increase.” She felt other FOI-obtained data on recorded hate crimes probably supported this. Between 1 January and 26 September, there were 305 recorded hate crimes by Humberside Police.
“I think there is a general acceptance here that, whether it is incidences going up or reporting rates going up, the numbers are simply too high. We want to get to the root cause of that and encourage culture change across North East Lincolnshire.”
Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson said the meeting “was useful”, though he stressed the “need to be tackling violence in general across society”. This has risen in North East Lincolnshire, though other crime has decreased.
“I think there’s a wider issue to look at, but this clearly is a very important area.” As council leader, he would review what the local authority was doing in areas like children’s services and public health “to be able to address” VAWG. Cllr Jackson emphasised the need to look at outcomes to ensure there is “downward pressure” on VAWG and violence generally.
Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Kath Wheatley attended to learn more about the new government priorities for violence against women and girls and their focus on a preventative agenda. She stressed the importance of engagement, particularly from the public, and programmes working with perpetrators. “We need that support for children to not migrate from being victims and then, in 20 years’ time, as we’ve heard earlier, becoming a perpetrator.”
“A holistic approach” was needed so that “the ultimate outcome” is a safer borough and country. The council runs no significant perpetrator support scheme due to a lack of permanent grant funding. Asked if she would press the government and Ms Onn for such funding, Cllr Wheatley said: “Of course, funding’s essential for all aspects of things. What we were talking about during the meeting with regards to funding and perpetrator programmes is that other local authorities certainly do have that.”
North East Lincolnshire had perpetrator programmes, but not council-run. “As a local politician, obviously I want the local authority to be at the heart of local issues.”
Deputy Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Leo Hammond said ending VAWG and domestic abuse was “a number one priority” for the PCC’s office. His key message at the meeting was the importance of male empowerment to tackle the issue. “Because sadly,” he said, “the minority of men who think violence against women and girls is acceptable will only really listen to men.”
“It’s really important we do bystander training,” he said, so men feel confident intervening in situations that happen in pubs or on the streets. The PCC’s office funds North East Lincolnshire’s Community Safety Partnership, which brings partners together to tackle issues like VAWG. Through community safety funding rounds, the PCC’s office has supported numerous women’s and victims’ groups. It encouraged any third-sector organisation working in the VAWG area to get in touch, “and we can see what we can do about supporting initiatives and activities that are going on.”
Asked if the round table would recur, Ms Onn said she wanted it to serve as a working or advisory group to herself and other people in North East Lincolnshire, to ensure “the action that needs to be taken is being integrated into other plans that are already getting ready to be rolled out across the area.”