Richmond WEP calls on council leaders to do more to protect local women and girls

By Cesar Medina

17th Aug 2024 | Local News

Richmond WEP members beside Amelie Delagrange's bench on Twickenham Green (credit: Richmond Women's Equality Party).
Richmond WEP members beside Amelie Delagrange's bench on Twickenham Green (credit: Richmond Women's Equality Party).

Ahead of the 20th anniversary of Amelie Delagrange's death, the Richmond branch of the Women's Equality Party (WEP) is calling on Richmond Council leaders to do more to ensure local women are safe in their own homes as well as on the streets of Richmond and Twickenham.

Tuesday, 20 August marks 20 years since Amelie Delagrange was murdered on Twickenham Green.

However, despite wide-spread awareness of her death and subsequent initiatives, her death serves as a reminder that women are still not safe in their neighbourhoods or their own homes.

Katelyn Severn, Branch Leader of Richmond Women's Equality Party, says: "It is a depressing reality that three women are killed every week in England and Wales with 95% of them killed by a man.

"Amelie's death prompted some initiatives to be introduced but we would like to see Richmond Council go further. Council Leaders should be demanding that the Home Office report crime from the Borough broken down by gender, and that domestic violence be recorded separately to violent crime.

"In addition, it's a shame that their commitment to light the path across Twickenham Green will not be completed by the 20th anniversary of her death."

After Amelie Delegrange's death, Richmond Council introduced weekend safety hubs by Richmond and Twickenham stations, offered bystander training, and White Ribbon commitments which have helped protect women and girls from feeling unsafe when out and about in public spaces in the Borough.

Richmond's Women's Equality Party are calling councillors to do more ahead of the 20th anniversary since the death of Amelie Delagrange’s death on Twickenham Green (credit: Cesar Medina).

However, given that 59% of adult female homicides are committed by someone already known to the victim, WEP believe council leaders could be taking more action to make women safe in their own homes as well as on the streets.

Katelyn Severn adds: "Amelie's death was an awful reminder that even leafy boroughs such as Richmond remain unsafe places for women and girls to live.

"We just want Council leaders not to forget and to continue pushing to improve the safety of women and girls in Richmond."

Liberal Democrats Twickenham MP Munira Wilson says: "Our community comes together to remember the tragic death of Amelie Delagrange who was brutally murdered on Twickenham Green twenty years ago. 

"She was only twenty-two when she was killed, and my thoughts go to her loved ones who will be remembering her on this day. 

"Sadly, violence against women and girls is still prevalent across our society today and we must be doing more to tackle this to ensure that everyone can feel safe within our communities."

Richmond Council is holding a memorial for Amelie Delegrange on tomorrow (Sunday, 18 August) at 3pm on Twickenham Green. 

     

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