PCC visits support services ahead of White Ribbon Day
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin has pledged his continued support for White Ribbon Day, the global movement aiming to end men’s violence against women and girls.
White Ribbon Day falls on 25 November and is led in the UK by White Ribbon UK. The charity works with men and boys to address the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to gender inequality and violence.
As part of his role, Mr Dunbobbin commissions several services that support women experiencing domestic abuse, including the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit and the Victim Help Centre. DASU offers confidential services for survivors and the Victim Help Centre provides advice for victims of crime from its base at divisional police headquarters in St Asaph.
Mr Dunbobbin recently visited DASU’s base in Colwyn Bay with Senedd Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor, and Beca Brown, Councillor for Llanrug on Cyngor Gwynedd. They met Gaynor McKeown, CEO of DASU, and her team to discuss the services they provide. The group also heard about an increase in older victims coming forward and concerns around rising misogyny affecting girls in schools across North Wales.
Later the same day they visited the Victim Help Centre to hear how the service supports victims of crime and organises the North Wales Victim’s Panel, where people can share feedback on their experience of the criminal justice process.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, commented: “I was pleased to meet the teams from DASU and the Victim Help Centre, who shared their expertise and experiences with Mabon and Beca. The visit was also an opportunity to show our collective commitment to White Ribbon Day and the campaign to end violence against women and girls.
“Ending this kind of violence is a personal mission of mine and it forms a core part of my Police and Crime Plan for North Wales. The services I commission as PCC, such as DASU and the Victim Help Centre, offer support and advice to victims of domestic abuse across North Wales and I know how valued their work is. As a White Ribbon Ambassador, I am determined to play my part in bringing all gender-based violence to an end both in North Wales and beyond.”
Gaynor McKeown, CEO of DASU, said: “We are really pleased that the PCC, Mabon ap Gwynfor and his colleague Beca Brown were able to visit our offices and one of our refuges to see the lifesaving work we do. The PCC has been a huge supporter of our work and that of RASASC North Wales through his tenure, providing both organisations with most of our funding. We were pleased to be able to further raise awareness of VAWG with representatives from the Senedd to showcase our work and so we can work together to continue to provide these critical services to all victims of VAWG in Wales.”
Sioned Jacobsen, Senior Operations Manager at Victim Support North Wales, said: “White Ribbon Day is a vital reminder that ending violence against women and girls means challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours. The Victim Help Centre, delivered by Victim Support, provides free, confidential and independent support to anyone affected by crime across North Wales, whether or not they’ve reported it. Every day, we see the impact of domestic abuse and gender-based violence and we work tirelessly to help victims feel safe, heard and supported. By working closely with the PCC and partners like DASU, we ensure victims’ voices shape services and that together we create a safer, more respectful community for all.”
Read more on the White Ribbon Day website: www.whiteribbon.org.
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