New projects funded to keep women safe

The Safety of Women at Night Fund will award up to £5 million to 22 organisations focused on improving the safety of women and girls at night.

The bids include initiatives such as drink spiking detection kits, a transport safety campaign and trained staff to support safe taxi journeys.

The fund was launched by the Home Secretary in July with up to £5 million made available for projects and initiatives to improve the safety of women in public spaces at night.

The 22 successful bids are from civil society organisations, local authorities and police and crime commissioners across England and Wales. This includes Bristol City Council receiving funding for a trial rollout of kits to detect drink spiking which will be made available to all police officers and at 60 night-time economy venues, and West Yorkshire Combined Authority launching a Train Safety campaign to promote access to an online link with safety information for public transport users.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Violence against women and girls in our country’s nightlife is still an awful reality for many, and horrific crimes such as sexual assault have devastating consequences. Working with the police, local authorities and venues these innovative projects will identify and crack down on those who pose a risk and give women the practical support when they need it. We must use every possible tool at our disposal to ensure people feel safe at night when walking home, using transport, or enjoying a night out with friends.”

Nesil Caliskan, chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Tackling violence against women and girls and ensuring everyone can enjoy public spaces and venues at night as we return to a vibrant night-time economy is a top priority for local authorities. We were pleased that the government acknowledged the need to do more to address women and girls’ safety through the ‘Safety of Women at Night Fund’. It is positive that councils were eligible to bid for funding and that 10 council projects have been successful.

“Given this is such an important issue, and the fund has been oversubscribed with bids, we are calling on the government to increase the fund and extend it beyond March 2022.”