National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Honour Based Violence

I have promised to use my position as Police and Crime Commissioner to raise awareness about these crimes and to help victims have the courage to come forward. I have and will continue to work with community partners which includes grants from the Safer Communities Fund, where money taken from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act are given to local organisations to help their communities be safer and feel safer. These grants have been awarded to a number of organisations including Staying Put in Bradford and Karma Nirvana in Leeds which specifically help the victims of these crimes. It is vital that we look at how we can best reach victims – they are often hidden away and not fully engaged with their wider community. Working with our communities and partners we need to raise awareness, which includes engagement with potential victims, and address how we can make it easier for victims and witnesses to report forced marriage and honour based violence.