Be Heard
Bedfordshire Police is working closely with partners and community groups to tackle male violence against women and girls (MVAWG), by focusing on perpetrators as well as raising the awareness of the different types of support available to victims.
As a force we understand there are many barriers when it comes to reporting crimes which disproportionately affect women such as domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences, and honour-based abuse.
We believe there is underreporting specifically from women from diverse communities, and as a force we are working to break down those barriers.
How it started
The Be Heard pilot was launched in collaboration with Nine Red Presents, a specialist art therapy group which focuses on support for women who have experienced domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Working closely with the group’s CEO Debra Knight, the force was given an insight into the lived experience many of the women in the group had faced.
Joining regular community events in Luton, the group were able to help shape the force’s domestic abuse policy, ensuring it is representative and inclusive, and ensured a compassionate and collaborative approach to supporting victims.
Now is the time to Be Heard
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"Every time I’d block an email address, he would make a new one, and the contact was relentless"
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"Have you ever said no and it not be enough?"
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"I had my keys but didn't want to go inside in case the man tried to follow me in"
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"He made her vulnerable, using them to exploit and manipulate her"
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"I couldn’t admit what was happening because I didn’t understand how it happened"
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"I knew that I was taking my last breath"
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"If you had known me then, before the harsh realities of life broke my spirit"
Where can I get support?
There is lots of support out there for women and girls in Bedfordshire.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, we can put you in touch with other support organisations that understand your specific needs.
Whilst we would always encourage people to reach out to the police, we understand people need support in many different ways, and there are many different support options.
We are part of the Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership (BDAP) a collection of organisations working to help and support all victims of abuse.
You can find a full list of support services and how to contact them on the BDAP website.
If you have concerns about your partner, or the partner of a family member or friend, you can request information about them through the Clare’s Law scheme.
Find out more about Nine Red and the work they do.
How can I report to police?
You can report information and crimes to police by calling 101, or speak to us through our web chat service.
If you have information but you want to remain anonymous you can speak up by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
In an emergency, always call 999.
We also support the StreetSafe tool, where anyone can anonymously tell us about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe.
Find out more about tackling male violence against women and girls (MVAWG).