Johanna Robinson: Adviser on women’s violence speaks of own rape

In the year ending September 2023, 67,983 rapes were reported in Wales and England, police data shows.

The latest figures breaking down reports by gender show 72% were made by women in the year ending March 2022.

Johanna has worked on initiatives such as the Welsh government’s Sound campaign which encourages young men to learn about gender-based violence.

Johanna decision to share her story has been described as ‘courageous and brave’ by Amanda Blakeman, North Wales Police’s chief constable and the Wales lead for violence against women and girls.

She describes violence against women and girls as a complex crime which is changing as society and technology develops.

“I’ve worked in public protection and sexual offending in my 32 years of service, we are in a far better place than we’ve ever been but I’m not complacent,”

She said there is a key focus on perpetrator programmes in order to break the cycle on abuse.

“It should never be about this is a victims responsibility to stop it, it’s the perpetrators responsibility to understand that their behaviour is escalating”.