After 3 years Merseyside Police Commissioner reveals progress on the Region wide:- 'Violence Against Women and Girls Delivery Plan'

MERSEYSIDE Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell has unveiled a progress report detailing the achievements from the last 12 months in the work to tackle Violence against Women and Girls across the Region.

The 'Working in partnership to tackle Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Delivery Plan' was launched by Emily Spurrell in 2022 after extensive consultation, setting out a clear ambition to protect women and girls, prevent violence, pursue offenders, and ensure tackling VAWG remains a top priority across Merseyside.

The strategy, which was agreed by all political leaders and contributed to by nearly 50 partners across the Region, sets out 57 clear, straightforward and achievable actions which all agencies can deliver to help eradicate VAWG.

3 years on, on International Day to End Violence against Women and Girls; and as the strategy reaches its final year; the Commissioner is highlighting significant achievements and new initiatives delivered over the last 12 months, building on the strong foundations laid in previous years since launching the strategy.

Key achievements from the last 12 months include:-

•  2,900 Officers and staff and more than 5,101 partners have received the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership's trauma informed training to improve their response to victims and better safeguard vulnerable people
   

• A further 1,800 frontline Officers have had domestic abuse training, with 150 dedicated champions in force now, and further specialist training on stalking being delivered with the support of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust
  

•  Launched the 1st Femicide Oversight Group to examine why women continue to lose their lives to male violence in our Region – and what more can be done to stop it from happening
  

•  3,782 Primary School pupils have been helped to identify inappropriate behaviour through Send me a Selfie programme
  

•  Domestic Abuse Workplace Champion scheme has been refreshed, and 145 new Champions have been trained to better safeguard victims
  

•  New specialist support service for victims of stalking and harassment has been launched
  

•  New Regional lead to drive work to tackle Child to Adult or Parent Violence or Abuse
  

•  Increase in positive outcomes in domestic abuse cases and quicker, more effective charging decisions
  

•  Operation Topaz launched sees high risk offenders intercepted on our roads
  

•  Drive launched to tackle inequalities that prevent women and girls getting active

To support these outcomes, the Commissioner has:-

•  Secured more than £400,000 to protect families by acting early to tackle abusive behaviour.
   

• Published an in-depth review of funding for domestic abuse services setting out 20 key recommendations.
  

•  Recruited a new Independent Chair to lead the VAWG oversight panel.
  

•  Offered support to more than 131,534 victims of crime through the Victim Care Merseyside hub.
  

•  Launched new phases of a partnership campaign #TakingAction with Merseyside Police putting the voices of women and girls 1st and highlighting the red flags of domestic abuse.
  

•  Hosted yearly lived experience workshops to learn from victim-survivors.
  

•  Partnered with local support services to host and fund annual vigils to remember Merseyside's lost women.

Take a look at the progress report 2024/25 you can download it via this link.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said:- "Three years ago, we set out an ambitious plan to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls across Merseyside and I am incredibly proud of the progress we've made together. This partnership has delivered real, tangible change; from expanding training and investing in vital support services to launching innovative campaigns and listening to the voices of women and girls every step of the way. This strategy was always designed as a starting point; a catalyst for change. While this is the final year of our original strategy, our commitment to making Merseyside safer for women and girls is unwavering. We will now take the lessons learned, the voices we've heard, and the partnerships we've strengthened to shape the next phase of this vital work. Survivors' experiences have guided us, and their courage continues to inspire everything we do. Every woman and girl deserves to live free from fear, and I will continue to champion their rights, challenge inequality, and hold agencies to account to ensure we drive lasting cultural change. Together, we will keep pushing forward until violence against women and girls is eradicated from our communities.”

Show Racism the Red Card Announces Cast for 2026 Tour of:- 'Our Little Hour'

SHOW Racism the Red Card is delighted to announce the cast for the 2026 production of:- 'Our Little Hour.' The musical, based on the life of the late, great Walter Tull, will tour theatres across the UK throughout February and March 2026, including a run at:- The Hope Street Theatre,n Liverpool, from:- 19 February to 21 February 2025, and at the The Atkinson Theatre,  Southport, on:- 25 February 2025.

Leon Newman returns to the show in the lead role as Walter Tull following his critically acclaimed performance during the sell-out 2024 tour. He will be supported by Neil Reidman, fresh from London's West End where he played Major Metcalf in the world's longest-running legendary show, The Mousetrap. Neil is also returning to the cast to reprise his role as Daniel Tull. Joining the line-up as Walter Tull's mother, Alice, will be Geebs Marie Williams, who has just completed a hugely successful run in the Barn Theatre's box office hit Haywire.

Commenting on the fact that the 2026 revival production comes less than 18 months after the 1st tour, Leon Newman said:- "I am not surprised that the show had been so well received," adding that:- "everywhere we went audiences were profoundly moved by this wonderful piece of musical theatre."

Hailed as:- "an intensely moving new musical drama" and "highly emotionally charged and utterly compelling..." 'Our Little Hour' tells the inspirational story of Walter Tull. He became the 1st Black footballer to play at the highest level of the domestic game in the UK before achieving another historic breakthrough as the 1st man of his heritage to be commissioned as an Officer in the British Army.

Written by award-winning playwright Dougie Blaxland and celebrated composer Chris Anthony, the production combines:- "16 hauntingly beautiful original songs" with "a powerfully poetic script" to dramatise Walter Tull's astonishing story of courage and endurance. The grandson of a Barbadian slave and orphaned at eight years old, he rose to prominence against all odds. Tragically killed in action just a few weeks before the end of World War I, Walter Tull's pioneering achievements have earned him a distinguished place in British history and in the hearts of everyone who knows his story.

Director Amanda Horlock described the show as:- "A celebration of the life of an extraordinary man whose pioneering spirit continues to inspire the campaign for justice and equality. This production honours the memory of one of the most significant figures in British sporting and military history."

Combining power-packed drama with hauntingly original music, the show serves as a vital educational tool. Paul Kearns, Director of Operations at Show Racism the Red Card, believes that the production:- "tells a really important story which will help to reinforce the work that we are doing to combat racism by engaging new audiences in a celebration of Walter Tull's pioneering contribution to British society."

The 2026 revival tour opens for a week at The Greenwich Theatre in London on 3 February before touring the UK until the end of March.

Full Tour Schedule:-

• 3 February to 7 February: Greenwich Theatre, London.
  

• 10 February: Mercury Theatre, Colchester.
  

• 11 February to 12 February: The Core, Corby.
  

• 13 February: Salford Arts, Salford.
  

• 14 February: The Swan Theatre, Worcester.
  

• 17 February to 18 February: Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.
  

• 19 February to 21 February: Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool.
  

• 24 February: The Stahl Theatre, Oundle, Northhamptonshire.
  

• 25 February: The Atkinson Theatre, Southport. 
  

• 26 February: The Blackfriars Theatre, Boston.
  

• 27 February to 28 February, The MAC Theatre, Birmingham.
  

• 4 March: Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick.
  

• 5 March to 7 March: Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle.
  

• 10 March: The Redgrave Theatre, Bristol.
  

• 11 March: Dorchester Arts Dorchester.
  

• 12 March: The Lighthouse Theatre, Poole Poole.
  

• 13 to 14 March: Yvonne Arnaud, Guilford.
  

• 17 March to 18 March: Beam Theatre, Hertford.
  

• 20 March to 21 March: The Courtyard Theatre, Leeds.

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