Hello you lovely lot,

Well, we have got the commitment to update the database that Violent and Sexual Offenders offenders and terrorists are on (ViSOR) - which is AMAZING!

However, we need to do more.

The reality is that this will most likely take years to be developed and implemented and during that time many more serial domestic abusers and stalkers will harm and kill hundreds of women.

Between you and the 241, 045 who have signed this petition (Thank YOU btw), Minister Victoria Atkins is planning to vote against Amendment 73 on Thursday 15 April. You read that right.

After PM Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Attorney General Robert Buckland all said that women's safety is the priority for the Government - how quickly those in power seem to forget that this means making a commitment to do just that. 

And I am not talking about more cameras or lights outside, and no, I am talking about more undercover officers in clubs or bars either. URGH.

This misses the mark in every way of what women want and need regarding safety. We want to know serial domestic abusers and stalkers are being proactively identified assessed and managed across the country. We want to know that this is a priority and that when we report we are believed and taken seriously.

We want to know that police services are putting together plans to identify the top 10-20 violent and serial perpetrators and going after them. We want to know that lessons are learned from Libby Squires' rape and murder and the 13 offences Relowicz committed on other women PRIOR to killing Libby and that the lessons are being identified and learned post Sarah Everard and the other 117 women killed last year. THESE LESSONS ARE NEVER LEARNED and actions are not taken as WOMEN'S SAFETY IS NEVER PRIORITISED BY THE MEN IN POWER.

Well, enough is enough. No more cheap talk or options about women's safety. The Government, and Minister Victoria Atkins, in particular must show their commitment to targeting male violence and the violent men and support Amendment 73 if they are serious about protecting women.

Amendment 73 has everything laid out - the hard work and the road mapping of how it will work in practice is done. I've had 20 years to think about it and talk with colleagues from every profession as well as victims, survivors and families. We know what is needed and we don't need more guidance which is what Minister Victoria Atkins is proposing.

Guidance alone will not work for many reasons - the first being that we have had guidance already and it changed NOTHING and also:

• Guidance is not read;
• Guidance will not change the culture;
• Guidance will not be implemented and there will be no accountability when it is not implemented;
• Guidance alone means no national join up, consistent or co-ordinated approach to identifying and assessing and managing serial domestic abusers and stalkers.
• Guidance alone WILL NOT WORK.

No more pieces of paper. We need action. We need this to be enshrined in law - a 'You Must Approach' NATIONAL to identifying serial perpetrators and taking proactive action to keep women and children safe.

TO DO BEFORE WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL, PLEASE TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO:

1. WRITE to your MP (especially if they are Conservative as we need their support in the vote) and ask them to support Amendment 73 for serial domestic abusers and stalkers tro be proactively identified, assessed and managed by police, prison and probation services and for there to be a statutory, national and consistent response using MAPPA+ (the Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements PLUS the domestic abuse and stalking specialist services and any other relevant professional who should be at the meeting.

AND Amendment 73 includes a comprehensive perpetrator strategy. The strategy should focus on male violence against women and girls starting at one end of the spectrum with early intervention and prevention and age appropriate education for young boys and girls about healthy relationships and the other with the register and proactive identification, assessment and management of the most dangerous men who harm women and children.

This work should be led by men, yes all men, with advice of specialist female experts who have been working on male violence against women and girls. It is not women's job to fix violent and abusive men and it's time for men to step up.

2. Continue to SIGN and SHARE the petition and all posts re the campaign on social media.

We have to keep the pressure on and ensure these slippery Ministers who are supposed to represent us hear us loud and clear

#ENOUGHISENOUGH #WOMENMATTER #MALEVIOLENCE #AMENDMENT73

Thank you so much! Together we can make this happen!

Laura xoxo