Latest news with #GloucestershirePolice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man charged with murder as victim named
A man has been charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder after allegedly stabbing three people. Kane Kotwica, 39, of Longford in Gloucestershire, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court earlier where he was remanded into custody to next appear at Bristol Crown Court on 2 June. Officers were called to a property in Bedford Street in Gloucester at about 07:40 BST on Wednesday following reports a number of people had been injured. One of the three men taken to hospital for treatment died from his injuries at about 12:00. He has now been named by police as 53-year-old Matthew Cainey from Gloucester. Gloucestershire Police said Mr Cainey's family are being supported by specially-trained officers. The two other victims' injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police added. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Gloucestershire Police
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Why Gloucestershire Police will no longer be using terms like 'revenge porn'
Police in Gloucestershire say they're no longer using terms like 'revenge porn' and 'groping', in an effort to reduce victim blaming and misogyny. The force said it hopes to improve how male violence towards women and girls is communicated to the public. It's hoped the new Words Matter reporting guidelines will place responsibility on perpetrators and improve accuracy by naming the crime that has been committed. ' A problem of epidemic proportions' According to ONS statistics: One in four women has been raped or sexually assaulted since the age of 16 Six in seven rapes against women are carried out by someone they know 71,227 rapes were recorded by police in England and Wales in 2024 Charges had been brought in just 2.7% of these cases by the end of the year In 2021, Ofsted found that 9 in 10 girls and young women in schools say sexist name-calling and being sent unwanted images of a sexual nature happens to them or other girls their age. Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire Chris Nelson said: "When it comes to crimes like domestic abuse, sexual assaults and many others, it is a statistical fact that men are the main perpetrators and women the main victims. "Anyone can be abused, but the misogynistic abuse women and girls face every day has become normalised in our society. It is a problem of epidemic proportions." What changes can you expect to see? Gloucestershire Police's Violence Against Women and Girls lead, Detective Chief Superintendent Kerry Patterson, said that the new guidelines will initiate "subtle but powerful changes in the right direction". They include advice on using active language which makes it clear that the perpetrator is responsible for their actions. She explained: "Stating that a man raped a woman, rather than a woman was raped by a man, clearly puts the responsibility on the perpetrator, and goes towards ending victim blaming language in our communication with both the public and press." PCC Chris Nelson added: "Women are not 'groped' in clubs, men are sexually assaulting them. Women are not 'playing hard to get', men are raping them." The guidelines instruct to avoid euphemisms which can downplay the severity of the crime. For example, using the term "revenge porn" to describe image-based abuse implies the person affected acted in ways that necessitate revenge. Similarly, describing the rape or sexual abuse of a child with phrases like "man had sex with a 14-year-old" implies the child was able to consent. What difference will this make? Work on the Words Matter guidelines began in August 2022, and the founder of the Hollie Gazzard Trust, Nick Gazzard, was on the initial panel to advise on the project. The trust was created after 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard was murdered by an ex-partner in 2014. A spokesperson from the trust explained that "plain and clear language" was essential in showing that decisions to commit crimes against women and girls are made by the perpetrators alone. They said: "It's about recognising that the harm that can be done to a victim or surviver or their family is immense if you're not being as factual as possible." They added: "Hopefully, the media will take the lead from the way the police communication team deliver that information. "Some of these worrying attitudes that the police are referring to are really hard to change but you have to start somewhere." Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, of Gloucestershire Police and the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, said: "If the use of inappropriate language around women and girls continues, then there will not only be a decrease in trust and confidence, but more worryingly a further rise to the already increasing culture of misogyny being learnt across fast-moving platforms, especially among younger people. "And if this is allowed to continue these views and opinions may manifest into more serious threats." Co-founder and Managing Director of This Ends Now, Sydney-Anne McAllister said: "With a focus on women's safety rather than holding perpetrators to account, male violence against women and girls is generally reported on in a victim blaming and misogynistic way. "More often than not, reports also downplay the seriousness of crimes and fail to acknowledge that male violence against women and girls is a systemic issue. "We believe that when would-be perpetrators know their actions will no longer be excused through language and power structures, they will stop abusing women and girls. By changing how these crimes are communicated, we can hold perpetrators to account. The Words Matter guidelines are believed to be the first of their kind in UK police communications. You can contact their Wiltshire support line on 01225 775276 or their Devon support centre on 0345 155 1074. Other resources available include:
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Violence against women: Gloucestershire Police aims to reduce victim blaming
New guidelines have been issued within a police force to help reduce victim blaming and misogynistic language when reporting instances of violence against 'Words Matter' reporting guidelines by Gloucestershire Police were created to "amplify the voices of victims and survivors, place responsibility on the perpetrator, and improve accuracy in its press communications".Work on the project began in August 2022 in collaboration with the not-for-profit organisation This Ends police and crime commissioner Chris Nelson said: "Women are not 'groped' in clubs, men are sexually assaulting them. Women are not 'playing hard to get', men are raping them." The guidelines relate to the use of language used by the force, and is a guide for communications teams as they provide information to the public and press through witness appeals and publicising outcomes from court. Jo Webb, from Gloucestershire Police's press office, said the force wants to be sure it is "doing it right"."We realised there was no set of guidelines for police communicators when writing about incidents of male violence committed against women," she said."In the past, we would have been quite passive with our language. "We might have said for example, 'a woman was attacked' or 'a woman had been raped', with not a lot of detail or focus on the perpetrator."Now we would say, 'a man has attacked or raped a woman' - we're putting the onus and responsibility on the perpetrator."Gloucestershire Police's violence against women and girls lead, Det Ch Supt Kerry Patterson, added: "These are subtle but powerful changes in the right direction." Gloucestershire based This Ends Now was founded in 2022 in response to a series of incidents of male violence against women and and managing director Sydney-Anne McAllister said she hopes the new reporting guidelines will "reframe the conversation" and help crime reports to more accurately reflect the seriousness of the male violence against guidelines cover crimes committed primarily, but not exclusively, by men and boys against women and girls, the force covers rape and sexual assault, domestic abuse, child sexual abuse, indecent images of children and image-based abuse. It also provides tips on headlines, language around age and referencing a perpetrator's occupation. Mr Nelson said: "Anyone can be abused, but the misogynistic abuse women and girls face every day has become normalised in our society. "The Words Matter reporting guidelines may seem a small way to tackle this systemic problem, but by changing the way we talk and think about these types of crimes, we change perceptions."Mr Nelson said the Words Matter guidelines run alongside their continuing work to end male violence against women and girls through funding vital victims services and educational programmes.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Gloucester stabbing: Murder investigation launched after man dies
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly stabbing another man to services were called to a property in Bedford Street in central Gloucester at about 07:40 men were taken to hospital, Gloucestershire Police said, one of whom died at about 12: suspect, in his 30s, was arrested by armed police a little more than a mile away from the scene, in Chequers Road, at about 08:10. He was also taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been discharged and transferred to police man who died has not been formally identified, but investigators have said they believe they know who he is and his family have been two other victims remain in hospital but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson said: "We understand how alarming and distressing this incident has been for members of our community."We would like to reassure everyone that the incident was contained within the address and there is no ongoing threat to the wider public."He said there would be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days.A cordon remains in place and investigators are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist dies in three-vehicle crash
A motorcyclist has died in a three-vehicle crash in the Forest of Dean. Gloucestershire Police said a second motorcyclist and a BMW driver were also involved in the incident on Sunday. Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on the B4226 Speech House Road, in Coleford, at 12:05 BST. The motorcyclist, a man in his 30s from Cinderford, died from his injuries after being treated at the scene. Road closures were put in place outside the Speech House Hotel for collision investigation work to be carried out, but Speech House Road and Fancy Road have since reopened. Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has relevant dashcam footage, to get in touch. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Roads closed by police after serious crash Gloucestershire Police
