David Skaith's priorities, as Mayor of York and North
Yorkshire, include reducing the levels of violence against women
and girls in our region and tackling crime in rural
areas.
This week is Rural Crime Action Week, which is putting victims of
rural crime in the spotlight by shining a light on the realities
of those affected, the unique challenges they face, and the
action needed to better protect them.
Many women who are victims who reside in rural areas in our
region can often feel isolated, unheard and at times feel they
are overlooked.
Earlier this year York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for
Policing, Fire and Crime, , presented a report to the local Policing, Fire and
Crime Panel which reviewed progress on tackling domestic abuse in
rural areas across North Yorkshire.
The panel heard how Liberty Links' a service provided by St Giles
Trust and receives funding from the Combined Authority, provides
mobile and outreach services to women in rural communities
throughout the Ryedale and Craven districts.
This is done via a specially converted van, called
‘Libby', which offers local women gender-specific
support in a trauma-informed way.
Other services have also been jointly delivered from the Liberty
Links Van including Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS),
Substance Use Support and Mental Health support.
Since the start of the service:
-
Between August 2023 and June 2025, 490 women have accessed
the service.
-
Between August 2023 and June 2025, 37 women specifically
accessed the service for advice and guidance around current
or previous domestic abuse.
Feedback from women who have accessed support from
‘Libby' shows how much they've appreciated having a
service available to them as a safe space.
“What a great idea. Living in the sticks is lovely but also
lonely and isolating, it can be tough. It's a brilliant idea,
just wish there were more of you!”
“When you move to a new place, especially when it is to get
away from a bad man you feel scared and alone, and when you have
children, you have to pretend to be happy all of the time, it's
hard. The van coming is a calm, happy place for me to chat and
drink coffee, you help me, but I can also forget for a little
while. Thank you”
A worker from a Foodbank in Norton said: “It's a great
service, it's so needed. It's a relief for us that we have
someone we can send women to, we have so many that we're worried
about. Keep up the good work”
It is estimated that only 24% of Domestic Abuse is reported to
the police nationally. In addition, rural victims are half as
likely as urban victims to report their abuse, leaving a
significant number of rural victims unknown and unheard. On
average, after abuse starts, a rural victim will wait almost 5
months longer to seek help than an urban victim, taking 3 years
to act.
Liberty Links continues to be very successful helping women in
rural areas across the region. It is a great example showcasing
the importance of partnership working, targeting resources more
effectively, and improving outcomes and feelings of safety for
women. The Combined Authority has allocated further funding to
continue to deliver the Liberty Links provision until March
2026.
To find out more about our commissioned services and how they can
help you here: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/for-you/services/commissioned-services/
You can read the report delivered to the Police, Fire and Crime
Panel here: Agenda for North Yorkshire
Police, Fire and Crime Panel on Thursday, 1 May 2025, 10.30 am |
North Yorkshire Council
ENDS
Notes to editors
, York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing,
Fire and Crime said:
“One in four women will be a victim of domestic abuse during
their lifetime and last year, in York and North Yorkshire,
support services worked with over 14,000 victims and survivors of
domestic and sexual abuse.
“National Rural Crime Action Week is our opportunity to
reiterate our commitment to tackling rural crime and showcase
some of the work taking place alongside North Yorkshire Police
and our partners, to tackle crime in rural
areas.
“Both Mayor and I are committed to
halving violence against women and girls in York and North
Yorkshire and ensuring we support women locally to help to meet
the Government's mission.”
