MP: Spectre of violence blights lives of women 

A Leicester MP has voiced her condemnation of violence against women after a woman was thought to have been murdered in London last week.

Leicester East MP, Claudia Webbe, told LeicestershireLive there is a “spectre of violence” in our country which “blights the lives of girls and women”.

This comes after Sabina Nessa, a 28-year-old teacher, was killed while walking to meet a friend at a London bar on Friday night.

Her body was found near a community centre in Kidbrooke Park Road, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, on Saturday, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Ms Webbe said: “The murder of Sabina Nessa, who was killed as she walked through a park to meet her friends, is utterly heart-breaking. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones.

“This violence has a trickle-down effect on the safety and wellbeing of women, who are forced to endure the constant threat of potential male violence. From parks and bus stops to our local high streets, girls and young women across the UK are facing appalling, misogynistic harassment every day.

“This spectre of violence blights the lives of girls and women, affecting their mental health, self-esteem, sense of safety and impinges on their right to equal access to public space.

“As we mourn Sabina, we must redouble our efforts to end the scourge of gendered violence and to build a future free of misogyny, hate crimes and the unacceptable risk that women currently face.”

Ms Webbe also took to Twitter to add her voice to those calling for an end to these crimes, saying Ms Nessa’s death was another reminder of the violence and fear faced by women everyday.

She said: “Women should not have to fear for their safety, walking alone at night. Sabina Nessa did not make it home.

“Her [alleged] murder is a reminder of how our lives are controlled daily – violence against women must end.”

A man in his forties was arrested in connection to the killing, but later released pending further investigation.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Kahn, has also addressed this cycle of violence, labelling it an ‘epidemic’.

He said on ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Between last year’s International Women’s Day and this year’s International Women’s Day, 180 women were killed at the hands of men across the country.

“We do have an epidemic when it comes to violence against women and girls. I think us men have got to be allies in addressing this issue.”

The investigation into Sabina Nessa’s death is ongoing with the Metropolitan police asking anyone with information to contact them.

Earlier this month, a new online tool that allows women and girls to anonymously flag areas of the country that they feel unsafe in launched in the UK.

The StreetSafe tool from the Home office is part of a three-month national pilot by the Home Office and women and girls in Leicestershire are being urged to use it to influence policing in the future.

Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews welcomed the launch, saying he “wholeheartedly endorsed” the Government’s strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

However, Ms Webbe said the Government should be doing more.

“The government must do much more to protect women and girls. Yet the fact that their flagship police bill introduced longer sentences for damaging a statue than sexually assaulting a woman reveals how utterly unserious they are about ending the perpetual threat that women face.”

Claudia Webbe MP is the member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and twitter.com/ClaudiaWebbe