Community Safety Partnership joins borough-wide commitment to ending gender-based violence
St Helens Borough's Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has formally signed the White Ribbon Promise, strengthening the borough-wide commitment to ending violence against women and girls and building on the council's recent White Ribbon accreditation.
Article date: 8 December 2025
The CSP brings together key organisations including St Helens Borough Council, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, NHS partners, and the voluntary and community sector. By collectively signing the White Ribbon Promise, partners have pledged never to use, excuse or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
Domestic abuse takes many forms, including physical, emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, economic abuse, and sexual violence. While anyone can be affected, national data shows that women are disproportionately the victims, and men more often the perpetrators. The White Ribbon campaign and the CSP's wider work - feeding into the action plan set out by the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board - aim to challenge these harmful behaviours, address the attitudes that sustain them, and improve early intervention and support for victims.
Signing the pledge deepens the partnership's shared responsibility to tackle domestic abuse and gender-based violence through prevention, education, and coordinated action across services.
Councillor Trisha Long, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, said: "The Community Safety Partnership plays a vital role in bringing organisations together to protect vulnerable people and challenge harmful behaviours. By signing the White Ribbon Promise, our partners are openly committing to helping create a borough where women and girls feel safe, respected and supported. This united stance shows that preventing gender-based violence is everyone's responsibility."
Superintendent Sarah Rotherham, St Helens Local Policing, said: "Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Merseyside Police. By joining the White Ribbon Promise alongside our partners, we are reaffirming our commitment to challenge harmful attitudes, protect those at risk, and bring offenders to justice. We work closely with local agencies every day to share information, coordinate support, and deliver prevention initiatives that make a real difference. This pledge represents our shared determination to create safer communities where everyone can live free from fear and abuse."
The partnership will continue working year-round to raise awareness, support survivors, and deliver programmes that address the root causes of domestic abuse and gender-based violence.