WOMEN in Cumbria are being assured that police are 'here to protect you' with the launch of a new campaign.

Cumbria's police and crime commissioner, Peter McCall, has urged woman experiencing abuse, harassment or violence not to 'suffer in silence' as he launches his 'Call It Out' campaign.

Mr McCall launches the campaign in response to the death of Sarah Everard in London.

He is calling for a 'change in culture' to help protect women and make a safer society for all.

In the 12 months, 7569 cases of crimes against women were recorded in Cumbria including 2,809 for stalking and harassment, 1825 for violence with injury, 2923 for violence without injury, ten deaths or serious injuries due to unlawful driving, and two homicides.

More than 2,500 of the perpetrators were current or ex-partners, just under 600 perpetrators were friends or acquaintances and 534 were strangers to the victim.

Mr McCall, said: “The appalling abduction and murder of Sarah Everard is a tragedy and a wakeup call that we need to change our culture and do more to protect women in our communities.

“No woman should feel harassed and unsafe under any circumstances.

“We need to continue to listen to the lived experiences of women in Cumbria and work together to reduce these criminal behaviours through awareness raising, education and correcting societal issues around victim-blaming language and placing sole-responsibility on women to protect themselves.

“Together with the Chief Constable we are determined to do more to improve the safety of women in the county and I am appealing to women and girls in our county to help by answering the call to tell us about your lived experience.

“This will give us the evidence to put resource in the right place to address the things that make you feel threatened or unsafe.

“I want to reassure every woman in Cumbria that the police are here to protect you, if you feel unsafe we want to help, and, if you have experienced sexual assault, rape or domestic abuse to please report it to the Police – your report will be taken seriously.”

“Please don’t suffer in silence, we’ve heard the call too many times that enough is enough so let’s Call It Out and make a better future for all women."