October 19, 2021. News
VRU establishes Special Interest Group for Violence Involving those Identifying as Women & Girls
The VRU has established a Special Interest Group associated with the Violence Involving those Identifying as Women And Girls (VIIWAG). It brings together colleagues from across partner agencies, practitioners, academics and includes representatives of our communities, including those identifying as women including from the Transgender community.
Meeting monthly, the meetings provide an opportunity to promote partnership working, to share information, to collate, test and evaluate the evidence and research associated with the risk posed both to – and by – women and girls from serious violence. It takes opportunities to consider trauma informed approaches and interventions, together with wider problem-solving activities to address protection, prevention, preparedness and the pursuit of offenders.
The SIG has established five sub-topic areas to structure meetings and discussions, including:
- Safe Places
- Understanding Vulnerability of Women and Girls
- Men and Boys as Perpetrators
- Women and Girls as perpetrators
- Criminal Justice
The VIIWAG SIG is chaired by Inspector Gayle Tandy of the Violence Reduction Unit, with close links to Thames Valley Police and its Violence Against Women & Girls work, in line with the force strategic priority on this matter.
To maintain a manageable meeting size and due to some of the detail discussed, it is not an open forum for the public to join. For those working in areas associated with this agenda, contact Inspector Gayle Tandy to discuss your participation: gayle.tandy@thamesvalley.police.uk
Future meetings and their themes as follows:
| 8 September 2021 | Sexual Violence | The End to End Rape Review Gayle Tandy VRU | Bystander Intervention Abigail Scott TVP | FGM Anastasia Towers Academia |
| 20 October 2021 | Women as Offenders | Head Injury and Criminality Tom Goodenough | Young Female Offending and YJ Jemma Calver | DI Jim Holmes Alana House and OOCD |
| 24 November 2021 | Academia | Women in OCGs Felia Allum Academia | The Incel MoonShot Analysis | |
| 16 December 2021 | Safe Places | Outdoor Spaces | Night Time Economy | Transport |
| January 2022 | Trauma Informed Practice | Trauma Informed Helena Fahie PHE | VRU | St Giles Trust |
| February 2022 | Organised Crime and Exploitation | The Alpha Female in OCG Victoria Butler | Women and Money Laundering Maria Isom SEROCU | Missing Young Women and Organised Crime M&E |
| March 2022 | Schools and Early Intervention | PSHE and Healthy Relationships | Safe Schools and Colleges | |
| April 2022 | The Female Street Population | Sex Workers | Rough Sleepers | Substance Users |