Tackling violence against women and girls 'a priority' for Sussex Police
Dozens of reports have been made against the force's officers
Last updated 15th Mar 2023
Sussex Police has outlined its plans to continue its efforts to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the future.
New data released by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) shows 48 unique cases have been reported against officers in the county for issues such as abuse and harrassment.
Those are among 1177 unique cases at forces across England and Wales reported over six months in 2021 and 2022.
These cases include both complaints from members of the public and those where there is an indication that a person serving with the police may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings.
Chief Superintendent Steve Rayland, Head of the Sussex Police Professional Standards Department, said:
“We encourage people to talk to us and we take all complaints seriously. We need the public to tell us when this happens by police officers and encourage anyone with concerns to talk to us.
“Even in cases where the evidential threshold is not met for criminal proceedings, we pursue individuals and use our robust internal misconduct processes to hold them to account.
"We are also working to build a culture among our teams where officers and staff feel confident to speak out when they have concerns."
The force has introduced a range of measures over the past two years, including a domestic abuse and stalking unit, a multi-agency victim hub, and one of the highest adoptions of stalking perpetrator orders in the country.
It has also worked with partners to promote safe spaces for women and girls and has a dedicated team of domestic abuse investigators.
Superintendent Adele Tucknott, the Sussex Police lead for VAWG, said: "We remain committed to making Sussex a safe place for women and girls and will continue to support the national framework as part of this endeavor."
As part of this commitment, Sussex Police has unveiled a range of plans to tackle VAWG in the future. These include:
- Expanding the multi-agency victim hub to ensure that all victims of VAWG receive appropriate and timely support.
- Launching a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the issue and encourage more victims to come forward.
- Working with local businesses to create safer night-time economy environments for women and girls.
- Developing a training program for police officers and staff to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively to VAWG cases.
- Increasing the number of officers dedicated to investigating VAWG cases.