A POLICE police language policy created to end victim blaming in communications will be discussed at Cheltenham Literature Festival this year.

The Words Matter policy aims to be a guide for police communicators in a bid to better communicate with the public in relation to incidents of male violence against women and girls.

Gloucestershire Constabulary and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have collaborated with the not-for-profit feminist activist group, This Ends Now, to create the policy, which is believed to be the first of its kind in UK police communications.

The team behind it will be at Cheltenham Literature Festival's VoiceBox stage on Saturday, October 7 at 3.15pm to have an open discussion about the importance of language.

Constabulary VIAWG lead detective chief superintendent Suzanne Baker said: “The changes we’re looking to make are subtle, but there is power in words.  

"It’s key we get it right in our own communications as what we say is often used by the media and seen by a wide audience.

“For example, stating that ‘a man raped a woman’ rather than ‘a woman was raped by a man’ puts the onus on the perpetrator being responsible for his own actions, and helps remove the idea that the victim had a choice.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to have an open discussion at Cheltenham Literature Festival about the importance of language, both in the police and media.”

Stroud-based Nikki Owen, co-founder and director of This Ends Now, said: “The language we use makes a huge difference to how we think, and the evidence backs this up. 

“Police communications are the first thing the media read concerning sexual assaults.

"By getting the language right at the source, we can start to get the language right in the broader media, helping to change public opinion and behaviour by ending victim blaming and misogyny.

“We thank the police team for being open to discussion on this and willing to set the standard for the language used in sexual assault offences.”