SADIQ KHAN will pledge today to boost measures to combat violence against women and girls if returned as London’s mayor next month.

In the wake of anti-violence protests following the killing of Sarah Everard, Mr Khan will announce a manifesto package aimed at ensuring all women and girls “are safe and feel safe” in the capital.
 
“It breaks my heart that so many women and girls do not feel safe in our country on a daily basis,” he is expected to say.

“And let’s be honest — these problems are caused by the unacceptable attitudes and behaviours of men.

“I promise to spearhead the change we desperately need to see in the way women and girls are treated in every single part of our society and at all ages.”

Mr Khan said he would start “by refreshing London’s strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and implementing a host of new measures.

“This will be at the very heart of my plans to build a brighter future for London after the pandemic.”

Among Mr Khan's proposals will be a campaign to make sexual harassment a crime in public places and investment in “ground-breaking initiatives” to reform the behaviour of perpetrators of domestic abuse.

He will also commit to working with police in encouraging abuse and rape victims to come forward and on improving conviction rates.

Mr Khan will announce his proposals on a visit to a Newham pharmacy, where staff are trained to provide a safe space to people experiencing, or who are at risk of, domestic violence.