Marking the one year anniversary since Sarah Everard's disappearance and murder, Cllr Jas Athwal, London Councils' Executive Member for Crime and Public Protection, says:
Violence against women and girls affects and involves every one of us, regardless of our sex or gender. One woman feeling unsafe on London’s streets is one too many.
Today marks one year since the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard, and sadly the past 12 months have seen more women killed in the capital. Today we remember Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and all other women who have suffered and died.
London boroughs stand together in our commitment to do everything we can to tackle the complex causes of violence against women and girls, to play our part in preventing violent acts, to support those affected by violence, and to support survivors in rebuilding their lives.
We urgently need dedicated, sustainable funding from government in order to tackle violence against women and girls and to provide community-based support services for survivors of domestic abuse or sexual violence. We have a range of plans in place, including training for night-time economy staff, undertaking prevention work in schools and working to make our streets safer. However, proper, long-term funding which goes beyond one year is desperately needed from the government if we are to end violence against women and girls.
We will continue to work closely with partners across London to tackle violence against women and girls in all forms, and we stand with survivors and remember those that have lost their lives on this important anniversary.
ENDS