Aspiring police officers at the University of Worcester have created a powerful public messaging campaign aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.
Students on the Professional Policing degree produced posters inspired by their studies, focused on educating people about issues such as consent and how the law applies in sexual offences, and domestic violence and coercion.
The posters, titled Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls, went on display in The Hive library.
In July 2024, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing announced measures to strengthen the police response to violence against women and girls, followed by a Government pledge earlier this year to halve such violence within the next decade.
The second-year students have been studying sexual offences investigations and violence against women and girls since September, which culminated in the poster campaign.
Student Natalie Carter focussed on young people and the importance of teaching about consent and respect at a young age.
“It’s such an important topic,” she said. “This project highlights areas many people aren’t aware of and shows why raising awareness matters. For anyone entering policing, understanding the rules around domestic violence and sexual assault is essential.”
Fellow student Sam Dorset said: “This has really opened my eyes about domestic violence. We’ve learned about the impact of it on victims, and how long they often wait for justice. For future police officers, understanding these challenges is essential.”
Camelia Mackay used her student poster to talk about red flags in domestic abuse cases. “People might look at that and recognise they’re actually in that situation,” she said. “I’m hoping it will make a difference because people sometimes aren’t at the point of realising that, so it’s just raising awareness.”
She added: “There is quite a lot of focus on violence against women and girls in the police so it’s good for us to have learnt about it.”
Student Caleb Duckworth said: “I wanted to bring awareness to wider consent issues. I focused on kids in high school, college and university because that’s where you start to learn about intimacy and relationships.”
“This project shows how our students apply what they learn to real-world issues,” said Angi Hart, Lecturer and Deputy Course Leader for Professional Policing.
She continued: “We want graduates who are not only ready for policing roles, but also passionate about making a difference in society. The poster campaign demonstrates their ability to engage the public, challenge perceptions, and promote positive change.”
She added: “These are skills that are vital in modern policing.”