I WAS pleased that Rodborough Parish Council opened up their meeting with Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commission and local police to discuss concerns around violence towards women and girls.

I am very concerned that there has recently been an increase of sexual violence against women in the Stroud area.

I have also raised in parliament the experiences of Stroud High girls who have been harassed while walking in their school uniforms.

They have bravely called out this behaviour and their stance has my full support.

The meeting is important to hear from local people, their concerns and experiences.

We are fortunate to live in a low crime area but any incident is of course one too many and all efforts have to be made to prevent harm.

The Government recently announced that Gloucestershire has received £2 million from the Safer Streets Fund to tackle neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls (VAWG) and anti-social behaviour.

The VAWG element will include funding for personal safety apps and alarms, new drug testing machines to tackle spiking and additional presence in the night-time economy through Street Medics, Night Safe Officers and Street Pastors.

Other measures are: an educational piece on the topic of stalking and an expansion of a local Sex Worker Outreach Programme.

It is of paramount importance that women and girls are safe within our communities. It doesn’t matter who they are and what they are doing.

It is a minimum requirement.

If any resident has any issues or concern they want my assistance with, please do get in touch by emailing siobhan.baillie.mp@parliament.uk