Four key priorities and objectives have been identified as part of plans to tackle violence against women and girls across Warwickshire.

The new strategy, drawn up in response to a national one unveiled by Ministers in July 2021, will run until 2026.

In announcing the strategy at this week's Warwickshire County Council cabinet meeting, the portfolio holder for adult social care and health Cllr Maraget Bell said: "There was a local call for evidence across the county and over 650 members of the public, victims, survivors and professionals were engaged in this.

"The four key priorities and objectives are prioritising prevention, supporting victims, pursuing perpetrators and reducing reoffending, and strengthening the system as a whole."

Cllr Andy Crump the portfolio holder for fire & rescue and community safety, paid tribute to those involved in coming up with the strategy.

He said: "This is a great report. We all know about the damage and devastation caused by violence against women and girls and in many cases it can have severe life-long consequences and it also impacts on families, carers, children and the community as well so it is something we really need to tackle and this is going a long way towards tackling it."

A report outlining the key points of the strategy explained that £357,000 would be available to deliver environmental improvements in areas of Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington and Stratford alongside additional communications and awareness raising campaigns. 

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse also praised the work done but also highlighted other areas of concern.

He said: "I have dealt with two cases in Rugby now of males who have been abused by their wives, in fact one was stabbed. What I'm flagging up is that while males are at a much lower rate than females, I think the overall strategy should not lose sight of it.

"Linked into that I hear more and more about coercive behaviour on both sides of the fence which increases mental health pressures."

Council leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe said there was also an issue around children abusing parents, something which had increased since the pandemic.

She added: "Society has changed, I think, since Covid. We have more aggressive and challenging behaviours and this does come out in violence. It is being aware and talking about it with our partners that will try and address the safety of residents within Warwickshire."