Do the Right Thing

The Do the Right Thing campaign encourages men to recognise sexual harassment and misogynistic behaviour from others and give them the confidence to call it out when they witness it.

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “In partnership with Thames Valley Police, I am committed to tackling sexual violence and harassment and the Do the Right Thing campaign reminds men that we must all speak out against inappropriate behaviour.

“We all have a responsibility to speak up whenever we see bigotry, violence or abuse and the campaign offers some simple advice on what people can do to play their part to tackle inappropriate behaviour.

“I continue to support victims of crime with my Victims First service and I’ll also be using the campaign to promote this in the hope that further support can be given to victims.”

How can you get involved in the campaign?

There are numerous ways you can get involved, including:

• Make the choice to stand up against inappropriate behaviour.
• If you see someone feeling uncomfortable with someone else’s behaviour, check they’re okay.
• Remember consent must be mutual in sexual relationships – be aware of your own actions and speak out if you hear friends aren’t being.
• Call it out if a friend or colleague makes an inappropriate sexual remark.
• Recognise if your own behaviour has been inappropriate in the past and make changes for the better.
• If someone is not interested in you then get the message. Repeated and unwanted attempts to contact a person can be threatening and even amount to stalking.
• Listen to and believe survivors of abuse. If someone shares their experience of abuse give them time and space to talk. Believing survivors and listening without judgement makes a huge difference to their recovery.
• Be part of the change – you may not harass or abuse women, but if you stay silent when you witness violence or abuse then you are part of the problem.
• Educate – next time someone tells you violence against women and girls is not a problem, tell them recent statistics show that:
  • More than 1 in 4 women have experienced domestic abuse
  • 1 in 5 women have experienced stalking
  • 1 in 5 women will experience sexual assault or attempted sexual assault in their lifetime
• Tell people about the Victims First service if you think they need help.
• Share your support for the campaign using the hashtag #DoTheRightThingThamesValley on social media.

Victims First

Victims First is a dedicated service run by our office and looks to ensure that all victims and witnesses receive the support they need to cope and recover from the impact of crime. We care about those affected by crime and work continuously to improve services and support for victims.

We offer information a dedicated counselling service and tailored support for people in the Thames Valley. You can find out more on our Victims First page or on our dedicated Victims First website: www.victims-first.org.uk.

The origin of the campaign

Following the success of Sussex OPCC introducing the campaign, Thames Valley has launched a localised version to align with our work around Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).