WOMEN marched across the world demanding that new President Trump change his behaviour and language towards them.

Meanwhile, Wiltshire has seen a 500% rise in serious crimes against women over the past five years. 

Some of this is explained by a welcomed increase in women reporting these offences, however, the rise is shocking. 

Domestic abuse has also gone up.

438 cases were reported in 2010/11, and 2,794 in 2014/15.

Reported rape rose from 18 cases to 134 in the same period. 

I am no prude. 

I respect the right of consenting adults to choose what they do in private. 

However, easy accessibility of online, hardcore pornography, particularly to children, is of deep concern. 

It is destroying respect for women.

Parents need to know what their children are looking at and block it. 

Social media providers have clear responsibilities to regulate the appropriate availability of their content.

Last year I exposed the dire performance of our county’s Conservative police and crime commissioner. 

He has presided over the poorest nationwide performance in bringing burglars to justice. 

Now it looks like crimes against women are another cause for very real concern in Wiltshire. 

Liberals believe every person has a right to be safe, respected for who they are and be free to choose who they love and what they want, and do not want to do. 

We believe these values are fundamental to a civilised society, they must be protected and our leaders should live by and promote them, and our policing priorities protect them. ‎ 

Prime Minister May, in her meeting with President Trump, and our Wiltshire police and crime commissioner in defining strategic policing priorities for action, should act accordingly.

DR BRIAN MATHEW
Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for North Wiltshire