Safe Havens: Inside Wandsworth’s crackdown on Violence Against Women and Girls
Wandsworth council has just launched its 'Safe Havens' scheme, which aims to provide a place of safety to those experiencing harassment or feeling unsafe.
Wandsworth council has partnered with the Safer Business Network and Walksafe to establish its ‘Safe Haven’ scheme – a borough-wide effort to provide a temporary place of safety to anyone that needs it.
17 local businesses so far have signed up to the scheme, who agree to provide support and assistance, calling a friend or taxi, offering a drink of water or a phone charger, or calling emergency services.
Among the approved locations across the borough are Battersea Arts Centre, The King’s Head, and Battersea Library.
Walksafe Founder and CEO Emma Kay, told City News:
“75% of our user base are female… primarily the fear of crime typically sits sadly with women and minority groups the most. I’d say, when looking at the data, harassment, sexual harassment, being followed, being catcalled, is typically the types of crime that Safe Havens see the most of”.
Wandsworth is considered to be the “safest inner London borough,” according to Cabinet Member for Health Graeme Henderson. The Wandsworth crime rate is 82 per 1,000 residents.
London Recorded Sexual Offences 2015-2025
Credit: Statista
With reported sexual offences seeing a 7.4% increase in London this year, many are left wondering whether enough is being done to truly protect female Londoners.
VAWG remains a prevalent issue throughout the capital. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling it, saying that:
“If we are going to truly fix the problem of VAWG, we need to see a fundamental cultural shift, that puts the onus of responsibility on men.”
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HeadlineSafe Havens: Inside Wandsworth’s crackdown on Violence Against Women and Girls
Short HeadlineLondon scheme combats gender-based violence
StandfirstWandsworth council has just launched its 'Safe Havens' scheme, which aims to provide a place of safety to those experiencing harassment or feeling unsafe.
Wandsworth council has partnered with the Safer Business Network and Walksafe to establish its ‘Safe Haven’ scheme – a borough-wide effort to provide a temporary place of safety to anyone that needs it.
17 local businesses so far have signed up to the scheme, who agree to provide support and assistance, calling a friend or taxi, offering a drink of water or a phone charger, or calling emergency services.
Among the approved locations across the borough are Battersea Arts Centre, The King’s Head, and Battersea Library.
Walksafe Founder and CEO Emma Kay, told City News:
“75% of our user base are female… primarily the fear of crime typically sits sadly with women and minority groups the most. I’d say, when looking at the data, harassment, sexual harassment, being followed, being catcalled, is typically the types of crime that Safe Havens see the most of”.
Wandsworth is considered to be the “safest inner London borough,” according to Cabinet Member for Health Graeme Henderson. The Wandsworth crime rate is 82 per 1,000 residents.
London Recorded Sexual Offences 2015-2025
Credit: Statista
With reported sexual offences seeing a 7.4% increase in London this year, many are left wondering whether enough is being done to truly protect female Londoners.
VAWG remains a prevalent issue throughout the capital. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling it, saying that:
“If we are going to truly fix the problem of VAWG, we need to see a fundamental cultural shift, that puts the onus of responsibility on men.”
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