Decision to tackle violence against women welcomed

It follows the death of Bobbi-Anne McLeod last month

The chief executive of a South West charity has welcomed Plymouth City Council’s decision to set up a commission to tackle violence against women and girls. 

Lyn Gooding is CEO of First Light South West, a charity supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. 

It follows the death of 18 year-old Bobbi-Anne McLeod last month, who went missing from a bus stop in Leigham.  

Cody James Ackland (24) has been charged with her murder.  

Bobbi-Anne’s death led the city council to pledge a share of £500,000 of Government money to address some of the fears expressed by women.  

Local people are now being invited to share their views about how safety could be improved in a virtual Q&A event on 13 December at 6.30pm. 

Ms Gooding is among the panelists taking part and said: “We welcome the creation of a multi-agency commission to focus on violence against women and girls. 

“Plymouth already has a strong multi-agency partnership focusing on domestic abuse and sexual violence and through this myself as the Chair of the Partnership Board and our Vice Chair, look forward to the Q&A session taking place on the 13 December to share details of some of the work already taking place.”

Others taking part include; Chief Superintendent Matt Longman (Chair of Safer Plymouth – the city’s community safety partnership), Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner), Matt Garrett (Service Director for Community Connections at Plymouth City Council) and Hannah Shead (Joint Chair – with Ms Gooding – of the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Local Partnership Board of Safer Plymouth).  

The event will be chaired by Cllr Rebecca Smith (Cons, Plymstock Radford) who earlier said: “This is such an important issue. One that I am honoured to lead on behalf of Plymouth. We cannot shy away from the realities that women face.

”The feeling of fear, intimidation, harassment and helplessness cannot continue, we need to confront these problems head-on so we can come up with a lasting, long-term solution to the deadly violence and abuse too many women and girls experience, at the hands of men.

“I don’t have the answers. But I want to be part of the solution. I want to move forward and make a real change for Plymouth.”

The establishment of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Commission also coincided with intense criticism of Council Leader, Nick Kelly (Compton Ward).

Cllr Kelly was suspended from the Conservative party after being accused of victim-blaming during an interview with ITV West Country in which he said: “Everybody has a responsibility to not put themselves in a compromising position but equally that isn’t the solution.”

The comments caused anger and upset and triggered a social media storm.

Cllr Kelly later issued an apology.

“I want to start by wholeheartedly apologising, particularly to the family and friends of Bobbi-Anne McLeod, if reported statements made by me earlier this week have caused distress and upset,” he said.

“I want to emphasise that in no way, shape or form was I ever suggesting that Bobbi-Anne McLeod did anything wrong. She didn’t.”

Nevertheless, the storm continued with the Labour group suggesting the suspension was a validation of their previous criticism of Nick Kelly. 

Cllr Sue Dann (Labour, Sutton and Mount Gould) said: “The suspension of Cllr Kelly from the Conservative Party pending an investigation is yet another acknowledgement of the serious misjudgement and lack of understanding of the impact and consequences of the comments he made.

“Victim-blaming – insinuating that women and girls put themselves in compromising situations is a crass assumption that men often make about women. 

“When you become a city leader there is a huge responsibility that comes with the role, this has been totally shattered.

“Cllr Kelly has let down women, girls and other vulnerable people in our city who would expect a leader to do what they can for community safety rather than blame them for being unsafe. 

Cllr Kelly has been approached for comment about the suspension. 

People who wish to take part in the multi-agency Q&A event on 13 December can register at the following link.  

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safety-of-women-and-girls-have-your-say-tickets-221478256427