'There is so much domestic abuse in this town that has gone unpunished'
Campaigners will take their protests to the council chamber later today
Domestic abuse survivors and allies will head to the West unitary council chamber today on a silent march to show their anger at the authority’s handling of allegations made about the former leader.
After weeks of denials, former Conservative leader Jonathan Nunn stood down last month amid allegations by a number of his former partners that he had been violent and abusive towards them.
Nunn, who was convicted in the early 2000s for a violent attack on his second wife, had been widely supported by fellow councillors following the new allegations which became public through the media last month and chief executive Anna Earnshaw had told Cllr Paul Clark, an independent councillor trying to expose the allegations, that ‘domestic abuse is a personal matter’.
The council’s stance, particularly as it is a partner in a campaign to end violence against women, led a number of local charities to write an open letter to the chief executive, to say the inaction regarding the allegations being made about the leader, was ‘dangerous’ and could risk setting local campaigns against domestic violence back by years.
The chief executive responded by saying it had been ‘an extremely challenging time’, and said at no time did she or the council seek to downplay the issue of domestic abuse.
Campaigner Hannah Martin, a domestic abuse survivor, who has organised the 4pm march, says the attitude of the council had spurred her to protest.
The march has been called Domestic abuse is not a personal matter in reaction to the chief executive’s comments.
Asked how the council’s inaction had affected people she supports who are experiencing domestic abuse, she said:
“It just makes them want to give up. They are not listening to us.
“So I decided, I will not stand and let that happen. There is so much domestic abuse in this town that has gone unpunished. We have no faith in the system now. Women are out there on their own. Why go to councillors for help?”
Earlier this week, it looked like the march may have not been permitted to go ahead.
On Monday Hannah was called by the police, to say they had been informed by West Northamptonshire Council about the protest, and as the necessary six days notice of a march had not been given, then it would not be able to proceed. They would have been allowed to have had stationary protests at the start and end points, but not march through the town. However the following day the police force changed its mind and Hannah Martin was informed the march could take place as planned.
Hannah had not informed the police of the march because she had not known of the need to, but she says the council had known of the planned march for weeks.
A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said:
“Since we became aware of this planned event, we have been working with the event organiser.
“We do usually require six days’ notice for a march to take place, however following a risk assessment today, we are happy to facilitate this protest as it’s peaceful in nature and the route planned will cause minimal to no disruption to the public.
“The organiser is also aware of how to notify us of any events that are planned in the future.”
The council says it informed the police of the march last Friday. This was five days before the march, meaning the six day deadline had passed.
A spokesman said:
“The Council informed the police that it had been made aware of two potential protests taking place in the town centre on Thursday. This is standard practice so the neighbourhood policing team is aware of any potential security risks and can ensure peaceful protests.”
Following his departure as leader, Jonathan Nunn has now left the Conservative party, after an intervention by MP Andrea Leadsom. He now sits as an independent, although is not aligned to the Independent Group. He continues to deny the allegations made against him.
The protest will begin at 4pm outside the BBC Radio Northampton building on Abington Street.
Before the annual general meeting of the west unitary goes ahead the authority will appoint a number of aldermen. (The term is used by the council for both male and female appointments).
They are: Former leader of South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) Sandra Barnes, former chair of the council Caryl Billingham and long serving SNC councillor Mary Anne Sergison-Brooke.
Leader of the former Daventry District Council (DDC) Chris Millar and former deputy of DDC Liz Griffin will also be made aldermen along with long serving Bugbrooke parish councillor David Harries. Former Moulton county councillor Judy Shepherd will also be honoured with the title along with former Northampton borough and county and West unitary councillor Suresh Patel, who stood down from the council last year due to ill health.
It is appreciated that the police have accommodated the march at short notice.
This is the kind of positive policing we like.