A campaign to increase women’s safety, particularly around the transport network, is being rolled out across the whole of Merseyside.
The Safer Streets campaign aims to tackle Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and improve women’s feelings of safety across the region.
The campaign was developed following a survey by Merseyside’s Police and Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, showed that 54% of women felt unsafe using public transport in Merseyside, at night and nearly 42% had concerns about using it in the day.
Safer Streets Merseyside will deliver:
- A ‘guardian project’, with student volunteers trained to provide support to those who need it in Liverpool’s night-time economy, such as helping people get home or providing emotional support.
- Enhanced high visibility CCTV coverage along key bus routes used by students and other young people to head into and out of the city centre at night.
- Travel centres at each of the bus stations, creating ‘safe spaces’ for anyone who feels vulnerable within travel centres at each of the bus stations
- A text message service for reporting incidents of unwanted sexual behaviour whilst travelling on the bus network.
- An increased uniformed police presence in transport hubs and dedicated student bus routes at peak times on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as dedicated student event nights.
- Educational training in more than 130 primary schools across the region raising awareness of staying safe online, sexual harassment and misogyny.
- A new adult education programme looking to challenge misogynistic language and attitudes.
The Safer Streets Merseyside campaign will also be promoted through a powerful visual communications campaign targeted at potential perpetrators and highlighting there is no excuse for behaviours such as catcalling and unwanted sexual comments, groping and uninvited touching.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “It’s totally unacceptable that many women and girls still don’t feel safe using public transport or out about in our region, particularly at night. Through Safer Streets Merseyside we are not just challenging perpetrators and unacceptable behaviour but also looking to change attitudes, while taking practical steps to make sure women feel safer and give them the confidence to report incidents and seek support.”
Chief Superintendent Ngaire Waine, Merseyside Police said: “No woman or girl should feel unsafe in her community, and I hope that the measures put in place as part of the campaign help to improve their feelings of safety and demonstrate that there is no excuse for sexual violence and harassment in Merseyside.”
Click here to find out more about the Safer Streets Merseyside campaign.
Campus Support Services
Did you know that the University runs its own chaperone service for students?
If you are working late on campus or feeling vulnerable and would like to be escorted across campus, you can call Campus Support at any time on 0151 794 3252.
Two members of our security team will be with you in 15 minutes and our service operates 24 hours a day for 365 days of the year.
Report + Support
Report + Support is an online service which can be used to tell us about incidents you have seen or experienced that have made you feel uncomfortable. It can be used to report incidents including bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, hate crime, assault or discrimination, and can be used anonymously if you wish.
You can access the tool at any time online.
