A 'SHOCKING' second rape report has been made in Hereford just days after another rape was reported in the city.
Hereford and South Herefordshire Labour Party, which is due to hold a community safety Q&A event next month with police, councillors, and other influential figures for the county, said they were shocked and worried by the crimes.
Police were called to the river path between the Victoria Bridge over the Wye and nearby tennis courts in Hereford after a woman was raped between 9pm and 10pm on August 7.
It is the second rape report made in the area just over a week, after a rape was reported further down the river path, between Greyfriars Bridge and The Lines, on July 31.
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A spokesperson from Hereford and South Herefordshire Labour Party said: "The second potential rape case in Hereford is a truly shocking and worrying crime.
"This issue is incredibly complex and now more so than ever involving global influences and factors, such as the rise of Tiktok 'star' Andrew Tait, upon people's decisions to do this most horrendous and life-changing act.
"Closer to home we may ask what is done locally."
Nationally over the last decade police have been cut back in numbers by the government, while the local council have plans for increased CCTV operations, said the spokesperson.
The party wonders if more could be done through education to make sure there is a wide message in Herefordshire.
"This would, we hope, reduce future occurrences but doesn't deal with the here and now and the lack of safety for women, girls, and men, facing as they must an appalling abuse of power," said the spokesperson.
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With issues such as this the party believes awkward questions need to be asked, and it has predicted a second incident would happen.
"This is precisely why the next open meeting was already planned on this very issue, knowing as we sadly did that there would be another tragic incident of this kind."
The next meeting will be held on September 28 at Hereford FC from 7pm to 9pm with speakers including chair of the community safety partnership councillor Ange Tyler, director of West Mercia Women's Aid Sue Coleman, and Maureen Scott-Douglas of Unite Union.
Police and health representatives will also be at the event.
"Only together can we challenge this unacceptable situation and change the culture of what is and never will be, 'one of those things'," said the spokesperson.
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