Nottinghamshire OPCC earns White Ribbon accreditation
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Nottinghamshire has demonstrated its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls by becoming a White Ribbon accredited organisation.
It means the OPCC has pledged to support White Ribbon UK in its movement to end men’s violence against women and girls and to show ongoing actions to promote positive change.
It involves a particular focus on engaging with people, especially men, to be allies and drive a cultural shift in attitudes to preventing abusive and violent behaviour, so that it is considered ‘everybody’s business’ and not simply a criminal justice response.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Angela Kandola is the OPCC’s lead for tackling violence against women and girls, and led the drive to become accredited to ensure the organisation leadership and dedication to delivering a safer Nottinghamshire for all.
As part of the commitment, and to help raise awareness, DPCC Kandola has been recruiting male allies to support the White Ribbon pledge which states: “I promise never to use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.”
Videos of these male allies giving their backing will be published on the OPCC’s social media channels throughout the 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women and girls, which starts today on White Ribbon Day.
DPCC Kandola said: “We are really proud to become a White Ribbon accredited organisation because we recognise that violence against women and girls is one of the biggest challenges in creating a safer Nottinghamshire for all.
“Violence against women and girls refers to crime types that disproportionately affect women, such as domestic abuse and sexual violence, and makes up just under 20% per cent of all recorded crime in England and Wales.
“To tackle this, we recognise that we need to help change social attitudes so that people don’t just stand by in the face of misogyny, abuse and violence but are empowered to call out or take action against perpetrators and provide support for victims.
“The White Ribbon accreditation is a great way to show or commitment to this cause and highlight our ongoing actions to raise awareness, educate and campaign to change cultures that lead to violence against women and girls.”
Tackling violence against women and girls is one of the priorities in PCC Gary Godden’s Police and Crime Plan – entitled A Safer Nottinghamshire For All.
The OPCC also coordinated partner agencies across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to create a joint Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which partners are continuing to deliver.
The organisation will join partners across the country in celebrating UK White Ribbon Day, on 25 November 2025, which is a national day to raise awareness, educate and campaign to change the cultures that lead to violence against women and girls and marks the start of the 16 days of Action to end gender-based violence.
White Ribbon UK aims to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing the root causes of men’s violence against women: harmful attitudes, behaviours and systems around rigid gender norms and harmful expressions of masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and gender-based violence.
Allyship is a central message of the White Ribbon; it represents men taking responsibility to challenge this issue and being allies, every day, to stop violence against women and girls before it starts.
Lynne Elliot, White Ribbon UK CEO, said: "We're really pleased that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire has become White Ribbon accredited.
“By doing this, they're taking practical steps to ensure that everyone in their organisation is safe, equal and respected. We work with organisations across the UK who are showing their commitment to preventing violence against women and girls by becoming accredited, and it's encouraging to see this across a range of sectors."