Partnership led by University of Exeter receives funding to improve women’s safety

The significant funding boost, delivered by the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund, will be used to launch a number of initiatives within the city centre. 

The partnership will allocate the funds to bolster women’s safety while using the city centre, particularly at night, and also implement new ways to ensure their safe passage home. 

The initiative will be focused around three key areas - providing training to staff and professionals within the night time economy sector on key safety issues faced by women; developing and launching a Safety Charter to empower everyone to challenge unacceptable behaviours;  and strengthening and re-energising the existing  ‘Best Bar None’ scheme. 

Peter Scargill, Director of Commercial, Residential & Campus Services at the University of Exeter and who led the bid said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding, which reaffirms our commitment to enhancing safety measures across the city, especially at night. 

“It is imperative that we strive to continually take steps to improve safety measures wherever possible. The University, alongside Exeter Community Safety Partnership, continue to work closely to support the safety of all women in Exeter. The additional support that the bid funding will provide is extremely important in extending this work.” 

The funding has been allocated into seven different initiatives in order to meet the aims of the scheme. They are: 

• Training and development packages for professionals within the night time economy sector, including bar staff, door staff and taxi drivers, including training on how to deal with and tackle incidents of such harassment 
• The creation of a Women & Girls Safety Charter for Exeter, which would provide a long-term approach for venues in the city as best practice for keeping women safe  
• The re-establishment of the ‘Best Bar None’ scheme, which promotes the responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises, helps build positive relationships between the licensed trade, police and local authorities, and works to reduce the harmful effects of binge drinking in town centres 
• The installation of signage under CCTV cameras around the city centre with unique codes which allow callers direct access to the CCTV control room 
• Bespoke safety training for women, delivered by community interest company More Positive Me, to empower women to feel safer when using the city centre at night 
• Delivery of workshops by Space Youth Services for teenage women aged 16-18,  to raise awareness on the issues faced by girls in the night time economy, such as sexual exploitation, drug and alcohol misuse, violence, harassment
• A public awareness campaign about the scheme, under the umbrella title of “Safer Central Exeter” 

The scheme is run by the University of Exeter in partnership with the Exeter Community Safety Partnership. 

Superintendent Antony Hart, Chair of Exeter Community Safety Partnership, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to improve the safety of women and girls in Exeter. Everyone should expect to feel safe when enjoying an evening in the city and we will not tolerate anti-social or criminal behaviours which cause others to feel unsafe. We are working with partners across the city, including with licensed premises, to raise awareness of issues of safety and to take timely action where such issues occur”. 

In launching the national Safety of Women at Night Fund , 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.”