A community committed to sexual violence prevention

Alison Lowe is the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire. She is a University of Leeds alum, a mother, a former councillor for Armley, and a Leeds lass, born and bred.

She is also a survivor of sexual violence and domestic violence. Because of this, Alison is passionate about using her position and power to speak up for women’s rights and for survivors, and to ensure that they have a voice and access to the right support. 

Alison was first appointed as Deputy Mayor in 2021 and helps oversee policing in West Yorkshire. A key part of her role is to bridge the gap between communities and the police, working to improve the public’s trust and confidence in the police force. 

As well as completing her Undergraduate and Masters degree at the University, she was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2022 for her work to advance equality and diversity across West Yorkshire. 

Alison works closely with the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, to help make our community safer for women and girls. She has overseen the funding of the Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVA), the Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA), and the new Independent Stalking Advocacy Service. These services are vital in providing support and advice to victims/survivors. Alison recognises the importance of support being provided to everyone, whether they choose to report the crime to the police or not.

The safety of women and girls is at the heart of Alison and the Mayor’s work across policing, criminal justice, and community safety. Alison is closely involved in the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, which hands out money seized from criminals to community organisations working to make West Yorkshire safer. Since 2022, over £1.5 million has been given to 179 projects improving the safety of women and girls in our region. 

As a lifelong ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, Alison understands the importance of recognising that people of all genders, identities and orientations can be victims of sexual violence – and those most marginalised in our society are often disproportionately affected. It’s vital to frame conversations on issues like violence against women and girls and sexual violence in a way that’s inclusive for everyone.   

We know that sexual violence is much more than physical things like sexual assault and abuse. It’s embedded in the ways we think, talk, and act. It can stem from other offences like harassment, or harmful attitudes such as misogyny, which is why Alison expresses the importance of reporting problematic behaviours as early as possible, to address them before they can escalate. 

If you want to help make positive change, you can support the Mayor’s Just Don’t campaign which aims to tackle problematic behaviours to prevent misogyny and crimes that can arise from it.