Violence Against Women and Girls

Violence Against Women and Girls: From Deliberation to Action

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) remains a serious and ongoing issue affecting communities across the borough. It includes a wide range of harmful behaviours, such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, coercive and controlling behaviour, and harassment in both public spaces and online environments.

Following a Full Council motion in December 2024, Maidstone Borough Council committed to strengthening its response to VAWG. To ensure this work reflects the lived experiences and priorities of residents, we undertook a borough-wide consultation and a community deliberation programme.

You can find the full results from the public consultation on this page, located in the top right under Lifecycle.

Community Discussion - Complete

Between 28 February and 21 March 2026, residents took part in a four-week community discussion focused on VAWG. This process brought together a diverse group of participants to explore the issue in depth and develop practical, resident-led recommendations.

Participants engaged with evidence from the public consultation and heard from leading experts in the field, including Jess Phillips MP (Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls), Professor Fiona Vera-Gray (London Metropolitan University), Tim Woodhouse (Kent County Council), Leyla Buran (Centre for Protecting Women Online), Dr Stephen Burrell (Melbourne Research Alliance), and many more.

Through structured sessions, participants examined root causes, explored local challenges, and worked collaboratively to identify clear actions for the Council and its partners to take forward. This included conversations on topics such as public spaces, social media and online safety, the consequences of abuse, identity and culture, accessing services, and education.

From Deliberation to Delivery

The deliberation has now concluded, and the focus has shifted to making it happen. Working with the multi-agency VAWG Action Group - which brings together the Council and key partners - resident recommendations have informed a clear action plan. It responds to the themes that came out of the community discussion, including safer public spaces, social media and online safety, the consequences of abuse, identity and culture, accessing services, and education.

Cabinet backs the plan (July 2026)

On 22 July 2026, Cabinet considered the final report and agreed the way forward (external link). Cabinet approved the action plan, allocated £250,000 to deliver the recommendations, and agreed to create a new Women’s Safety and Violence Prevention role to lead and coordinate the work.

This means the priorities you helped identify are now moving into delivery - backed by dedicated funding and a dedicated person to drive them forward.

You can find the final Involve UK Report under the Documents tab on this page.

What happens next

Over the coming months we will:

• recruit to the new Women’s Safety and Violence Prevention role to lead delivery
• work with partners through the VAWG Action Group to put the plan into action

Addressing VAWG is a long-term priority. This work doesn't end with the deliberation - it lays the foundation for continued collaboration, evidence-based decisions and community involvement.

Thank you to everyone who took part. Your voices have directly shaped what happens next.