Yesterday saw the launch of the annual international 16 Days Campaign to increase awareness of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and encourage communities to come together to achieve equality and respect for everyone, regardless of their gender.

Over the course of the campaign, Police Scotland and partners will focus events around the #ThatGuy, #Ask Angela and #WhatWillYouDo campaigns, ensuring that activities are focused on action as well as awareness raising.

Partners have agreed that this year it would be beneficial to acknowledge how much work has taken place to embed Equally Safe in Scotland, and the actions identified in previous campaigns, and to ask what we need to do as we move forward.

The #WhatNext theme gives opportunity to consider what should inform the next phase of the Equally Safe strategy in Scotland, and how we can align VAWG within other key policy developments.

#WhatNext will inform the development of a national conference at the end of 16 Days 2022, highlighting the work across the campaign and targeting decision makers to engage with the actions identified.

To find out about events in East Lothian, please visit the East and Midlothian Public Protection Office website (https://emppc.org.uk/home) .

VAWG often takes place in the context of an intimate relationship and domestic violence remains a priority for East Lothian police.

Officers in East Lothian typically respond to between three and four domestic incidents every day, 365 days a year. Some of these may involve providing advice in relation to property and child custody issues but over a third will result in a crime being reported.

We will continue to prioritise such enquiries to ensure we support victims whilst bringing perpetrators to justice.

However, we know that victims of domestic abuse face many barriers in contacting police and I would encourage anyone who has concerns that someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse to contact the police.

Please be aware that what may, on the face of it, appear to be anti-social neighbours (banging and shouting etc), may, in fact, be domestic abuse and should be reported via 101, online via the Police Scotland website or in an emergency via 999.

Finally, I would highlight the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) which gives people the right to ask about the background of their partner to see if they have been abusive in the past.

It also allows concerned families and friends and professionals such as midwives and social workers to make a referral to the scheme.

DSDAS gives Police Scotland the power to tell people they may be at risk even if they have not asked for the information themselves.

This allows people to make an informed choice about whether to remain in a relationship and gives them access to support services from partners.

DSDAS also allows partners involved in the scheme to work together to address linked concerns such as child and adult protection and wider safeguarding issues.

DSDAS referrals can be made online from the Police Scotland website.