Lincolnshire's Crime Commissioner says change starts early in preventing violence against women
He's urging for a focus on education as figures reveal hundreds of men charged with serious offences
Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says education is the answer to tackling violence against women and girls, after new figures revealed the scale of charges for serious offences in the county.
A Freedom of Information request shows nearly three hundred men in Lincolnshire have been charged with intentional strangulation or coercive and controlling behaviour in the last two years, compared to just thirteen women.
We need to ensure our young men are growing up with healthy attitudes towards what a good relationship is
Over the last two years in Lincolnshire, eighty-seven men and seven women have been charged with intentional strangulation or similar offences.
For coercive or controlling behaviour, one hundred and ninety-four men and six women have been charged during the same period.
We have a problem predominantly with men and the way they behave in relationships
Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said:
“It is something that we as a society need to accept and understand—that we have a problem predominantly, but not exclusively, with men and the way they behave in relationships.”
He added, “We need to work extra hard to ensure that our young men are growing up with healthy attitudes towards what a good relationship is, but equally, our young women are growing up knowing that it’s okay to say no.”
Mr Jones warned that real change needs to start early, saying, “By the time you get to enforcement activity by the police, society has failed and people are already at risk.”
He says education and prevention are crucial to shifting attitudes and protecting women and girls across Lincolnshire.