Vital Signs MK 2025 - Report - Page 7
Crime & Safety
SaferMK’s strategy, reviewed annually, serves as a
commitment by community safety partners to work together to
maximise the impact on safety in the agreed areas of priority.
Published in 2022, Priority 3 (VAWG) highlighted ‘both women
and men feel less safe in Milton Keynes compared to previous
years’ and that ‘VAWG in the night-time economy is a national
concern.’ 4
The partnership’s next steps are to ‘engage with stakeholders,
including licensed premises and the public to understand how
women and girls feel about their safety in open spaces and
the night-time economy.’ 5
While concerns often focus on the risks of women going out
alone at night, Rape Crisis for England and Wales highlights
that in 86% of rape cases against women, the perpetrator
is someone the survivor knows—45% of the time, a
partner or ex-partner. 6
White Ribbon Day
White Ribbon UK, a leading organisation committed to
ending VAWG, highlights that such violence is deeply rooted
in harmful masculine traits and calls for cultural change
through the engagement of men.
“Women and girls have the right
to feel safe in our city. Whilst we
are proud to call ourselves a White
Ribbon City, we know there is
still more work to be done. Lots
of people are signing up to be
ambassadors and champions and
I am asking local organisations
of all sizes to join us and lend
their support to these issues.
Together, we can challenge harmful
behaviours and ensure that women
and girls in MK can feel safe and
supported by men and boys.”
Amber McQuillan, Cabinet Member
for Community Safety
Its 2024 campaign, #ItStartsWithMen, underscored the
responsibility of men to challenge attitudes and behaviours
that contribute to a fear of violence.
Positive action in Milton Keynes has already been
demonstrated, with MK City Council achieving White Ribbon
Accreditation in 2022, signalling its commitment to
addressing these challenges.
As part of the e昀昀ort to raise awareness and promote
action, Milton Keynes hosts an annual vigil each November,
established in 2020, to mark the city’s solidarity with women
and girls both locally and globally who deserve to live free
from violence.
Milton Keynes Community Foundation supported the 2024
vigil with funding toward the cost of the event space. The vigil
underscored the power of community partnerships in driving
change. Together, these groups are working towards a future
where Milton Keynes continues to grow as a city free from
violence towards women and girls.
3
(Source: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/community-safety-safermk-partnership/safermk-strategy-and-themes)
(Source: Page 4, Community Safety Strategy, Safer MK)
5
(Source: Page 4, Community Safety Strategy, Safer MK)
6
https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/about-sexual-violence/myths-vs-realities/
4
Vital Signs MK - 12th Edition 2025
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