Victoria Atkins MP, the Home Office Minister with responsibilities for Vulnerabilities and for Women, will discuss the issue of domestic violence at Anglia Ruskin University’s Chelmsford campus on Thursday, 22 November.
The public talk is the latest in the “Policing and Vulnerability” lecture series hosted by the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER) at Anglia Ruskin University.
Nick Alston, Chair of PIER, said: “The incidence of domestic violence continues to increase in Essex and now accounts for 15% of all recorded crime, causing immeasurable harm to individuals and families, and huge costs to our communities.
“This is despite initiatives by Essex Police and partner agencies in recent years which has brought new approaches, and the use of new legislation.
“Now the government is bringing forward its draft Domestic Abuse Bill which seeks to address aspects of the problem so this will be an important opportunity to hear directly from the Minister responsible.”
The Minister will speak and answer questions about the issue, and will be joined by Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet and Alison Gilmore, who chairs the multi-agency Essex Domestic Abuse Partnership Board, to discuss the local response to domestic violence.
The lecture is free and open to the public, and will take place in the Lord Ashcroft Building (MAB221). The event begins at 5.30pm, with refreshments available from 5pm.
Advance booking can be made at Eventbrite https://victoriaatkinslecture.eventbrite.co.uk