Home Secretary Theresa May To Visit Chiswick

To attend event on domestic violence, with local MP Mary Macleod

The Home Secretary, Theresa May will address an audience of schools, charities, police and Crime Prosecution Services in Chiswick tomorrow (June 18) at a major event on domestic violence, organised by local MP Mary Macleod.

Also speaking at the event will be Sandra Horley CBE, Chief Executive of Refuge. Refuge opened their first ‘safe house’ for women and children escaping domestic violence in Chiswick over 30 years ago.

Commenting before the event, Mary Macleod, said, “This summit is about making sure domestic violence is a top priority for London. We are bringing together the police, CPS, Councils, businesses, charities, health services, schools and local residents to make sure we work together to put a stop to this awful crime.

“Almost 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced domestic abuse at some point in their life, and police receive a phone call every minute about it. We need to make dealing with domestic violence a priority in practice and not just on paper – we need practical ways to make that happen which is what we will be talking about this Wednesday.”

Theresa May, said: “Domestic violence is an appalling crime and the Government is doing everything it can do stamp it out. I have just chaired an extremely positive National Oversight Meeting, the first of many designed to take forward the recommendations coming out of the HMIC report published in March.”

“New Domestic Violence Protection Orders can now be used by police to protect victims, and only last week, legislation came into effect banning forced marriage. I am immensely proud of UK leadership on these issues and I want to thank Mary for organising this event in Chiswick, which I think will make an excellent contribution to strengthening our efforts in London and beyond.”

Sandra Horley CBE, Chief Executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge, said: "Refuge has deep roots in Chiswick - this is where we opened the world's very first safe house for women and children fleeing domestic violence, back in 1971. Since then we have grown to become the country's largest provider of specialist domestic violence services. Demand on our services is relentless - every day we support over 3,000 women and children who are living with fear and brutality. Every week two women are killed by current or former partners.

"I commend the Home Secretary for showing leadership on this issue by commissioning HMIC's national inspection of police forces. It is essential that the police - and other agencies - improve the way they respond to abused women and children. Domestic violence will not end until we all work together to protect victims and bring justice to those who perpetrate this horrific crime."

June 17, 2014