Libby Squire's mum urges parents to discuss violence

The mother of a university student who was murdered following a night out, has said she believes children should be educated from an early age about violence against women and girls.

Lisa Squire's 21-year-old daughter Libby, from High Wycombe, was abducted and killed in Hull in 2019.

Pawel Relowicz, a Polish butcher, was convicted of raping and murdering her in 2021 and was jailed for life.

Mrs Squire said that education on this issue of violence against women and girls "starts at home".

Mrs Squire shared her story at the Safety Centre in Milton Keynes, which has launched an empower and challenge programme designed to tackle the issue in schools.

The centre, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has received £98,170 from Milton Keynes Community Foundation to educate 20,000 students across the city about violence against women and girls.

Mrs Squire told the BBC: "I don't think it should all be down to schools, I think it has to come from the home as well."

She added that "when you've got toddlers, you talk to them about how they interact with people, what's right and wrong. Obviously as they get older, you can expand the subject matter."

All three of Mrs Squire's daughters have visited the centre as part of their education, including Libby when she was ten.

Mrs Squire feels Libby would have been impressed by projects like this.

She said "I think she'd be really pleased, she'd be really proud - especially with the schools package and what the Safety Centre is doing."

Mrs Squire added that Libby "knew education was a gift and used to say that everybody had the right to learn".

At the time of her death Libby was a student at the University of Hull.

The Safety Centre is a White Ribbon accredited organisation, which aims to support and empower young people across the country to understand the risks around violence against women and girls, for victims and perpetrators.

Maya Joseph-Hussain, the CEO of the Safety Centre, said “We’ve created this programme in response to a growing need to educate and empower young people to reduce the risk of anyone becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence today and in the future."

She added "We’re committed to taking this project nationwide to protect young people, reduce the horrific statistics around femicide in the UK and to ensure we have safe, thriving communities for everyone today and in the future."

The programme has the support of Thames Valley Police, which covers Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray said "We cannot arrest our way out of these problems but we can educate people to keep themselves safe.

"People who are potentially at risk of becoming offenders - we can try and prevent them from ever becoming one."

Mr Murray told the BBC the force has looked at "different approaches" to try and get this message across to younger people, including working with the Love Island contestant Sharon Gaffka to help raise awareness of the issue.

He added "We're looking at stepping outside of the traditional ways that policing has engaged with people to make sure it is meaningful and actually reaches the audience we need."

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