Latest news with #VAWG
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
New police patrols to make women and girls feel safe at concerts
The Metropolitan Police are rolling out new measures to combat sexual offences against women and girls at London concerts this summer, as millions prepare to attend major music events across the capital. The initiative comes ahead of 51 large-scale music events planned across the capital, with Wembley Stadium alone expected to host over three million attendees. Central to the Met's strategy are new violence against women and girls (VAWG) patrols. These will operate alongside the V100 project, a novel data-driven approach designed to identify serious sexual offenders and proactively prevent crimes. This operation began on 5 June at US singer Beyonce 's concert at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and already led to police intervention. A person was removed from the stadium on suspicion of stalking and threatening behaviour, while a man was also arrested for upskirting; he remains on police bail. Ben Russell, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, said: 'The V100 is our approach to identifying those men who are at the top end of carrying out the most serious and harmful attacks against women and girls – that's multiple serious sexual assaults. 'Thankfully, there are a relatively small number of offenders who we believe are behind the most serious crime. 'In the short time we've been running this initiative, we've already arrested 177 of our V100 nominals and 129 of them have been convicted for a range of serious offences. 'And this is about identifying through our data the men posing the biggest risk of women and girls in London and taking action in a very targeted, precise way.' He added: 'With our VAWG patrols, there's two parts to them: Firstly, it's about engagement, so our officers talk to the public, really engage with them, having conversations, helping people to feel safe, and letting them know that if they've got concerns, they can come and speak to us. 'But the other part to it has a much harder edge, which is looking at the crowd and saying, 'who should not be here?' 'So that will not be so visible to normal concert-goers, but we will approach people we think should not be there and we will make sure they leave venues and leave the areas as quickly as possible.' An additional 565 officers and staff have been drafted into public protection roles across the force, aimed at enhancing the domestic abuse, rape and sexual offence investigation teams. The Met has also increased its live facial recognition tools to locate those wanted for offences and those subject to court orders, including sexual harm prevention orders. Mr Russell added: 'For us and the Met, protecting women and girls has been one of our number one priorities for a while now, and we're working really closely with the Government on that, and we're supportive of the mission to try and halve violence against women and girls, over the life of this parliament. 'Part of the way we look at our success is trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police, so we track on a regular basis how much people feel that they think we're doing a good job, and that's something working with the mayor's office, we track regularly. 'It's also about just getting out and arresting people at these events. We think if we spot people in the crowds who are committing these offences and are making arrests, that's a good result. 'Equally, if we recording and these crimes, that tells us that the public have the faith to come forward with over three million people coming to these events in the summer, we know that some crime will take place, a relatively small amount, but when we're able to track it to identify it, to record it, and arrest suspects, that for us is a good result.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
New crackdown sees man arrested for upskirting at Beyonce concert
Metropolitan Police have implemented new measures to combat sexual offences against women and girls at London concerts this summer. The strategy includes new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) patrols and the V100 project, a data-driven approach to identify and prevent crimes by serious sexual offenders. The initiative began on 5 June at a Beyonce concert at Tottenham Hotspur stadium, leading to one person being removed for suspected stalking and another arrested for upskirting. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell said the V100 project has already resulted in 177 arrests and 129 convictions of high-risk offenders. The Met has also increased public protection staff and enhanced the use of live facial recognition tools to locate wanted individuals.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Suspected upskirter is arrested at London Beyonce concert as stalkers are also removed from Tottenham Hotspur stadium
A man accused of upskirting at a Beyoncé concert has been arrested as people were kicked out of Tottenham Hotspur stadium for 'stalking and threatening behaviour'. The suspected upskirter was arrested during the first of six Cowboy Carter shows performed by the megastar at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 5. He is currently on police bail as enquiries continue. Metropolitan Police also backed venue security in removing people for 'stalking and threatening behaviour' as part of a larger crackdown on violent offenders at concerts in a bit to protect women and girls at 51-large scale shows across London. Five thousand officers shifts are set to be dedicated to supporting event organisers, public order officers, venue security staff, and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) patrols as three million music fans are set to attend Wembley this summer. Cops will be working in conjunction with four major venues, Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Emirates Stadium and the London Stadium. As part of their duties, they will identifying and intervening in any predatory or violent behaviour, and acting quickly to any violence against women and girls. Officers will also be on hand to speak with concertgoers as they patrol major venues and transport hubs. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who leads the Met's V100 initative, said: 'Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe, whether walking home, using public transport, or enjoying a night out at a concert. Yet too many still don't. The Met is determined to change that. 'This summer we are working closer than ever with stadium management and major event organisers to help keep the public safe. 'Dedicated VAWG patrols are taking place at a number of concerts throughout the summer, with officers trained to spot predatory men in crowds and taken action to prevent violence before it happens.' The Met's initative is part of a broader strategy to tackle violence against women and girls in the capital, which includes their V100 project which uses data to track and target the most harmful offenders. Since being launched the V100 strategy has more than doubled the risk of arrest for the most harmful VAWG suspects. The level of risk is assessed using crime reports alongside a tool which measures the seriousness of harm to victims, known as the Cambridge Crime Harm Index. Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: 'Women and girls deserve to be safe and feel safe wherever they are in the capital and I welcome this action by the Met at summer concerts to prevent violent behaviour, support those in need and take swift action against perpetrators. 'The Met's V100 work, made possible by City Hall funding, is transforming the way they tackle violence against women and girls, ensuring perpetrators who pose the greatest risk are arrested and convicted – protecting victims from the worst offenders and making our streets safer. 'Putting specially trained officers at these busy summer concerts is another step in the right direction. 'The Mayor and I will continue to support the Met to do everything possible to keep women and girls safe as part of our ongoing public health approach to tackling VAWG in all its forms to build a safer London for all.' A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said: 'The Wembley experience is all about enjoying a moment that our guests will remember forever. 'We are expecting around 3 million people to attend our concerts this summer – the majority of whom will be young women and girls. 'All of them should be able to attend without any fear or worry and be able to remember that moment for all the right reasons.'
BBC News
11 hours ago
- BBC News
Met to step up women's safety patrols this summer
The Met Police is women's safety patrols this summer at music force says that as part of their crackdown on violent offenders, officers will be making more of a visible presence at 51 large-scale concerts in patrols kicked off at the Beyoncé concert in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 5, the first of 19 more concerts where the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) patrols will take say that at the Beyoncé concert they removed individuals for stalking and threatening behaviour, and arrested a man for upskirting who remains on police bail while enquiries initiative is part of the Met's V100 project which uses data to track and target the most harmful offenders. The level of risk is assessed using crime reports alongside a tool which measures the seriousness of harm to victims, known as the Cambridge Crime Harm assistant commissioner Ben Russell, who leads the Met's V100 initiative and is also the lead officer for concerts this summer, said: "Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe, whether walking home, using public transport, or enjoying a night out at a concert. Yet too many still don't. The Met is determined to change that."This summer we are working closer than ever with stadium management and major event organisers to help keep the public safe. "Dedicated VAWG patrols are taking place at a number of concerts throughout the summer, with officers trained to spot predatory men in crowds and taken action to prevent violence before it happens."Deputy mayor for policing and crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: "Women and girls deserve to be safe and feel safe wherever they are in the capital and I welcome this action by the Met at summer concerts to prevent violent behaviour, support those in need and take swift action against perpetrators." For more on this, Deputy assistant commissioner Ben Russell, who leads the Met's V100 initiative will be speaking to Riz Lateef on BBC London's breakfast show at 07:20 BST on 20 June.
The Independent
17 hours ago
- The Independent
Met Police introduces patrols to protect women and girls at concerts
New measures are being introduced to tackle sexual offences against women and girls at concerts in London, the Metropolitan Police said. It comes ahead of 51 large-scale music events planned in London this summer, with more than three million people set to attend shows at Wembley Stadium alone. The Met has introduced new violence against women and girls (VAWG) patrols alongside the V100 project, a new data-driven approach to identify serious sexual offenders and prevent crimes. The operation began on June 5 at US singer Beyonce's concert at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and led to the removal of an individual on suspicion of stalking and threatening behaviour, as well as the arrest of a man for upskirting, who remains on police bail. Ben Russell, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, said: 'The V100 is our approach to identifying those men who are at the top end of carrying out the most serious and harmful attacks against women and girls – that's multiple serious sexual assaults. 'Thankfully, there are a relatively small number of offenders who we believe are behind the most serious crime. 'In the short time we've been running this initiative, we've already arrested 177 of our V100 nominals and 129 of them have been convicted for a range of serious offences. 'And this is about identifying through our data the men posing the biggest risk of women and girls in London and taking action in a very targeted, precise way.' He added: 'With our VAWG patrols, there's two parts to them: Firstly, it's about engagement, so our officers talk to the public, really engage with them, having conversations, helping people to feel safe, and letting them know that if they've got concerns, they can come and speak to us. 'But the other part to it has a much harder edge, which is looking at the crowd and saying, 'who should not be here?' 'So that will not be so visible to normal concert-goers, but we will approach people we think should not be there and we will make sure they leave venues and leave the areas as quickly as possible.' An additional 565 officers and staff have been drafted into public protection roles across the force, aimed at enhancing the domestic abuse, rape and sexual offence investigation teams. The Met has also increased its live facial recognition tools to locate those wanted for offences and those subject to court orders, including sexual harm prevention orders. Mr Russell added: 'For us and the Met, protecting women and girls has been one of our number one priorities for a while now, and we're working really closely with the Government on that, and we're supportive of the mission to try and halve violence against women and girls, over the life of this parliament. 'Part of the way we look at our success is trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police, so we track on a regular basis how much people feel that they think we're doing a good job, and that's something working with the mayor's office, we track regularly. 'It's also about just getting out and arresting people at these events. We think if we spot people in the crowds who are committing these offences and are making arrests, that's a good result. 'Equally, if we recording and these crimes, that tells us that the public have the faith to come forward with over three million people coming to these events in the summer, we know that some crime will take place, a relatively small amount, but when we're able to track it to identify it, to record it, and arrest suspects, that for us is a good result.'
