We are extremely concerned about the significant rise in violence against women and girls, which The National Police Chiefs Council has described as a “national emergency” following its report which highlighted the scale:

I woke this morning to the sound of a ‘national emergency’ ‘two million women are estimated to be victims of violence perpetrated by men each year’.  Everyone who works with women knows this already, for the past 26yrs it’s rare that we don’t hear this story. We have trained 1000s of police using Rattle Snake and more recently with Alisha’s Story.  Reports can be written but now we need action, a reset and to Smash the Patriarchy once and for all.  Catrina McHugh MBE, Artistic Director and Joint-CEO

The National Policing Statement for VAWG, commissioned by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing, found:

  • Over one million VAWG related crimes were recorded during 2022/23, accounting for 20% of all police recorded crime.
  • Police recorded VAWG related crime increased by 37% between 2018/23.
  • At least 1 in every 12 women will be a victim per year, with the exact number expected to be much higher.
  • Child sexual abuse and exploitation increased by more than 400% between 2013 and 2022.

Not only is VAWG growing, but we are also seeing ever more complicated types of offending which causes significant harm to victims and society as a whole. One in every six murders related to domestic abuse in 22/23, with suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse rising year-on-year.

Over the 26 years of working with women and girls across the region, nationally and internationally, we are very aware as an intersectional feminist organisation, that misogyny, domestic abuse and violence is the lived experience of many. We sit within West End Women and Girls Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne and know the impact the radicalisation of boys and young men by the likes of influencer Andrew Tate is having on young women and girls.

The theatre we co-create raises awareness and addresses gender injustice. Many of our productions highlight domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. Our films are always available for use within the workplace, schools, universities, communities and arts venues. They support debate, discussion and most importantly help women feel seen and heard. If you would like to use our films including Rattle Snake specially commissioned to raise awareness of coercive controlling behaviours, please email info@openclasp.org.uk for a screening license.

Us Too: Alisha’s Story, was made with and for the women from #UsToo who have experience of reporting rape/sexual assault. To watch, please visit https://openclasp.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/us_too_alishas_story