Camden Council seeks views on preventing violence against women and girls

“Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is one of the most significant injustices in our society,” writes Councillor Pat Callaghan, Camden’s cabinet member for safer communities, in a new report on improving safety in the borough.

The council is now seeking the public’s views on its “ambition to end violence against women and girls” in a month-long public consultation which opened this week.

“All responses are anonymous, and no personal details will be collected or shared,” says the council which wants residents to help shape its final strategy — the very first it has undertaken.

A report for Cllr Callaghan sets out how it can be realised.

Firstly, the council will use “data, insights and evidence to understand local needs, identify inequalities and target support effectively.”

Secondly, there will be a focus on the experience of victims and survivors of violence in order to provide lived experience and ensure that they feel heard.

Lastly, they emphasise the importance of a collaborative approach to the strategy, “working together to promote fairness, justice and better outcomes for all our residents.”

The draft strategy, says Camden, has been formed through working with survivors, victims and other stakeholders and contains some hard-hitting statistics.

“In 2024, there were just over two serious sexual offences for every 1,000 women living in Camden. This was more than three times higher than the average across the rest of London,” says Callaghan.

“One in four adult women in Camden are likely to experience domestic abuse in their lifetime,” states the report.

The Crime Survey of England and Wales (2024) found that 91 per cent of people prosecuted for sexual offences are men aged over 18 years; six in seven rapes against women are carried out by someone they know; and one in two rapes against women are carried out by their partner or ex-partner.

“Our Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy makes clear that the responsibility lies not with women, but with all of us: every individual, every community, every institution to challenge and dismantle the structures and attitudes that enable abuse. Men have a specific and important role not just as allies but as leaders in tackling these attitudes and behaviours,” says Callaghan.

The council have emphasised that the Strategy must be “evidenced-based, intersectional, and grounded in the lived experience of our diverse communities”.

There are five key priorities for the council to achieve: preventing harm before it happens; earlier identification and support; supporting all adults and child survivors and victims; holding perpetrators to account; and working in partnership.

While the Strategy does address a breadth of concerns surrounding violence towards women and girls, it largely ignores the contribution that the consumption of alcohol has.

Alcohol is mentioned only once in the draft document yet according to the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), between a quarter and half those “who perpetrate domestic violence have been drinking at the time of assault”.

Outside of domestic situations, the objectification of women in alcohol marketing in the night time economy contributes to unwanted sexual attention and normalises a fear of sexual violence, stated the IAS in its submission to a government call for evidence on the issue.

While Camden is actively promoting a night time economy which is heavily linked to the alcohol industry, it does recognise that violence towards women occurs in these settings.

Its new licensing policy approved last year seeks to raise awareness about gender-based violence and harassment and methods to prevent it, such as the “Ask for Angela” campaign, and initiatives to prevent “drink spiking”.

“We want women and girls to be confident in public spaces, supported and safe in relationships and in their homes, and heard in every room where decisions are made,” says Callaghan.

“If we want to end violence against women and girls, then prevention, justice and equity must be everyone’s business.”

In its call for public comments on the strategy the council is mindful that “some of the content in the Strategy and consultation may be upsetting or triggering” and has provided a telephone helpline to provide confidential support and advice as part of the process.

Camden Council, Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2026-2029. Public consultation closes on Sunday 22 March 2026. Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, decision and report.

Please support The Fitzrovia News. Consider helping us cover our costs by visiting our secure payment page.