Birmingham Councillor Delivers Firm Message to Men on Violence Against Women
Councillor Nicky Brennan has issued a definitive statement addressing violence against women and girls in Birmingham, directing a clear message to men across the city. The Labour representative for Sparkhill ward emphasized that such behavior is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
A Shift in Conversation
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Councillor Brennan highlighted the need to change the narrative surrounding violence against women. "We need to have a message to men that this behavior is not acceptable. We will not be tolerating it," she stated firmly. "This conversation always talks about what women need to do, but what we need to do is call men out for their behavior."
The councillor made these remarks ahead of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls event held on Tuesday, March 17, where she elaborated on the council's commitment to addressing this critical issue.
Encouraging Reporting and Speaking Out
Councillor Brennan strongly advocated for victims to report incidents of harassment or violence, whether occurring in Birmingham's public spaces or on public transport. "Speak out about it. Report it. Have the loud voice around calling it out," she urged, while acknowledging that many individuals may feel uncomfortable coming forward to authorities.
She reassured residents that officials are available to provide support and assistance to those in need, emphasizing that reporting mechanisms exist to help protect vulnerable members of the community.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Widespread Problem
During her address, Councillor Brennan presented concerning statistics that illustrate the prevalence of violence against women in Birmingham and nationally:
- Domestic abuse remains prevalent in local communities, with 39,500 calls to the Domestic Abuse hub last year alone
- This averages to approximately 108 calls per day regarding domestic abuse incidents
- West Midlands Police received 34,822 calls related to domestic abuse during the same period
- Despite significant underreporting, violence against women and girls accounted for 20 percent of all police-reported crime nationally in 2022-2023
- Recorded incidents of rape and sexual abuse by West Midlands Police have increased by 264 percent since 2010
"Remember these issues are chronically underreported, so the issue is even more prevalent than these stats show," Councillor Brennan cautioned, highlighting the hidden nature of much violence against women.
Council's Comprehensive Strategy
Councillor Brennan discussed Birmingham City Council's approach to tackling violence against women and girls, emphasizing that this must be a priority across all council departments. "It needs to be part of everybody's agenda, really," she explained. "It's everybody's business. Whether that is in our community safety team, whether that's in our health team, whether that's in how we look at planning and place, every part of the council has got a role to play."
The council is implementing strategies to ensure women and girls feel safe throughout the city, with coordinated efforts across multiple service areas. Councillor Brennan stressed that creating safer environments requires systemic change and collective responsibility from all community members and institutions.
"Fundamentally why we need to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls is to keep them safe in our city," Councillor Brennan concluded, reinforcing her commitment to this critical issue affecting Birmingham residents.
