Strategy to tackle violence

Strategy to tackle violence against women and girls

With almost 20,000 domestic abuse-related crimes and more than 3,500 hate crimes in Avon and Somerset recorded in 2020, independent candidate in the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections, John Smith, pledges to protect the most vulnerable from harm if elected, including launching a Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.

Recognising that one of the most important roles the police play is to protect the vulnerable from crime and to help those who are victims of crime, John will work with the police and partner agencies to ensure that vulnerable people across Avon and Somerset get the essential support they need if elected on Thursday May 6. He is also pledging to develop a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to improve safety for these groups across society.

John says: “Recently, we have seen several very concerning examples of male attitudes to women in our society which contribute to women and girls feeling unsafe. If elected, I would develop a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy which looks at cultural issues in schools and the workplace, lobby for misogyny to become a hate crime and develop a strategy towards safety of women and girls in public spaces in our area including while exercising and during the Night Time Economy.”

To further ensure that the most vulnerable people in the region are protected, John’s plans also include:

Supporting victims and targeting offenders

of domestic abuse: If elected, John will work with the police and other partners to continue to support victims and increase the targeting of offenders. He pledges to both reduce the numbers of these crimes being committed while at the same time increasing the reporting of these crimes by victims.

Improving support for victims of rape

and serious sexual offences: The Criminal Justice System is too often not serving these victims well. John is pledging to provide additional investment to ensure that all victims of these crimes are listened to, believed and supported, including funding Independent Sexual Violence Advisers and expert legal advocates in court to support victims through their court cases and providing specialist ad trauma-informed training within the police force.

Protecting children from exploitation

including child sexual exploitation: As former Deputy PCC, John was part of the team to introduce an Avon and Somerset-wide specialist support service for victims of child sexual exploitation as well as Operation Topaz to identify and safeguard vulnerable children. He will continue to champion these.

A zero-tolerance approach to hate crimes:

All hate crimes should be handled proactively and fairly so that all communities feel equally safe. Avon and Somerset Police already work in partnership with organisations such as Stand Against Racism and Inequality to transform its approach to identifying and supporting victims of hate crime, and John is pledging to support this work.

Improve support for people in mental

health crisis: – Mental health was a factor in 30 per cent of all incidents attended by the police in Avon and Somerset last year. There are now mental health practitioners in the police control room to advise police officers and John will continue to work with NHS Mental Health commissioners to ensure that vulnerable people get the right support from the best professionals at the right time. In particular, John will lobby for additional mental health provision for people experiencing mental health crisis and for police cells not to be recognised as places of safety for people in mental health crisis.

Further commenting, John said: “Overstretched officers are often finding themselves with responsibility for some of the most vulnerable people in society, many which would be far better dealt with by specially trained partner agencies. Policing alone cannot protect vulnerable people and I pledge to continue to work with a wide range of partners across Avon and Somerset to protect those at risk.

John recently hosted an online roundtable event with expert guest speakers to discuss policies on protecting vulnerable people in Avon & Somerset. These included Anna Smith, CEO of One25, Sarah O’leary, CEO of Next Link, Penny McKissock, CEO of Southside and current independent Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens.

Elections for the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner are being held on Thursday May 6. John’s full manifesto can be viewed on https://www.johnsmith4pcc.com/.

Tel: 01275 341478 Tel: 01275 814400

29, Old Street, Clevedon, North Somerset. BS21 6DA. Email: clevedon_funerals@btconnect.com www.clevedonfunerals.co.uk 27, High Street, Portishead, Bristol. BS20 6AB. Email: portisheadfunerals@outlook.com www.portisheadfunerals.co.uk

Director: Ian Taylor-Rowlands Dip.F.D. LMBIFD Covering Clevedon, Portishead, Pill, Nailsea and surrounding areas. At Clevedon Funeral Services and Portishead Funeral Services, we are here to help you every step of the way, providing dignity and respect to you and your loved ones. Funeral Arrangements can be made at our offices, or in the comfort of your own home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans available.

Direct Service £1499.00 (No Attendance)

Simple Service £2662.00 (Service before 10am) Traditional Service £2892.00 (No Limousine ) Traditional Service £2992.00 (1x Limousine )

Bristol’s Home Cooks Create Outdoor Friendly Food to Help People Reconnect Safely

Some of Bristol’s most talented cooks have created a selection of homemade foods that are perfectly suited to picnics and garden gatherings in a bid to help Bristolians safely reconnect with loved ones as lockdown restrictions ease.

The Bristol-based start-up, All About The Cooks, enables people to discover talented home cooks who are making and selling food in their local area. With over 30 home cooks now signed up - a number who are professional chefs who have lost work through the pandemic – they have developed an array of tempting outdoor friendly foods that are now available to order via the website.

For picnics, items include freshly baked tear and share breads from cook Priscilla; to tasty quiches, perfectly baked flapjacks or an afternoon tea from cook Sarah; to dips and breads inspired by the street food of Tel Aviv from cook Ben, plus much more. For garden party dinners, options include artisan fresh pasta from Italian cooks James and Coco (former Head Chef at 1766 Bar & Kitchen); plant-based tapas from former Paco Tapas Head Chef David; Duygu’s roast stuffed chicken with an authentic Turkish rice pilav; a three-course spring feast from Sicilian cook Mariangela, plus more. Says Founder of All About The Cooks, Claire Ladkin: “The rule of six is now allowing us to reconnect with friends and family, whether that’s in a local park or in our own back gardens. With so many talented home cooks living in this city, we’re encouraging the people of Bristol to consider letting them prepare your picnic food or garden party dinner, instead perhaps of relying on shop-bought, factory-made products. Sharing real food made with love and passion with the people you love is so central to being human and is something we’ve all missed hugely. I’m proud of the variety of foods and dishes the cooks have developed that are suited to outdoor dining and am excited about some delicious sounding BBQ options that a number of cooks are developing for summer-time! Watch this space.”

To discover more cooks and the array of outdoor friendly food, visit: https://allaboutthecooks.co.uk/outdoor-dining/