Female victims of crime in Sussex are being asked to come forward anonymously as part of a global campaign against gender-based violence.

Police officers want to hear about the experience of women and girls who are victims of harassment, sexual and violent crime as part of an effort to engage with communities and improve detection and prevention of such crimes.

The six-week survey launched yesterday as part of a 16-day worldwide effort to tackle the issue.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Rayland, Head of the force’s Public Protection Command, said: “We have chosen this important day to reach out and seek the experiences of everyone, particularly women and girls, to help us do better to prevent and detect such crimes and keep everyone safe.

“We know that crimes including harassment and sexual offences are under-reported and this anonymous survey will provide an up-to-date snapshot that improves our understanding of why, and how best, the police and other agencies in Sussex can provide support, keep people safe and target perpetrators

“We already have comprehensive plans in place to tackle violence against women and girls in Sussex and we enjoy really strong partnerships with local authorities, victim services, and charities, working together to seek to address the root causes of gender inequality.
“But it is clear that in the police service we must do more, and must consider doing some things differently. This survey will give us a valuable steer on experiences that people have had and how we can adapt our work to respond more effectively.

“It is part of a wider programme of targeted engagement to ensure we hear views from a cross-section of the community across Sussex. This too will feed into our operational response.”

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