Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner says protection of women and girls 'core mission' for the county's force
Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), John Tizard, says protecting women and girls remains a “core mission” for the county’s police force.
His comments come after Lady Elish Angiolini warned that women nationally face real risks, and said it was “deeply disappointing” that her report’s recommendations have not been consistently implemented across England and Wales.
Lady Angiolini, who published the second part of her inquiry into preventing sexually motivated crimes in public spaces, told The Times that “women’s lives are at stake” and that it is “now time for those responsible to get on and implement the recommendations.”
She told The Times predators “risk getting away with offences” because crimes are not consistently recorded by police forces.
She said basic questions about the scale of rape, sexual assaults and indecent exposure “cannot be answered” because data collection remains “patchy and difficult to obtain”.
Her report also notes that the tools needed to prevent predatory behaviour are underfunded, and that fewer than half of England and Wales’s police forces have adopted Project Vigilant, a tactic that uses plain-clothes and uniformed officers to disrupt predatory behaviour.
These concerns relate to national implementation rather than any individual force.
Responding to the wider national picture, PCC Tizard told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I accept that I have a leadership role and am accountable for how I fulfil this.
“Protecting women and children is a core mission within my Police and Crime Plan, and one which I take very seriously.”
He said Bedfordshire Police has implemented all but one of the Angiolini recommendations directed at forces, with the remaining measure awaiting a national pilot.
He added that he scrutinises performance through quarterly governance meetings, regular discussions with the chief constable and engagement with women’s organisations.
Commissioner Tizard highlighted a number of programmes backed by his office, including:
• Bedfordshire’s participation in the Raneem’s Law pilot, placing domestic abuse advisors in police control rooms
• Grant funding for victim support and women’s safety services
• A Mary Seacole Housing Association pilot that rehouses perpetrators of domestic abuse rather than forcing victims and children to leave their homes
He said he is assured Bedfordshire Police “take the protection of women and children very seriously” and expects “zero tolerance” for misogynistic behaviour among officers, and added that Lady Angiolini’s findings emphasise the importance of sustained action from policing leaders.
Asked where responsibility lies in Bedfordshire if similar concerns were ever raised locally, the PCC said: “Whilst I do not, as PCC, have operational responsibilities, I am ultimately accountable for the performance and behaviours of Bedfordshire Police through the appointment and holding to account of the chief constable.”
Support is available for those affected by domestic abuse via the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger always dial 999.
For non-emergencies call the police on 101 or report it online.