Ask for Angela, White Ribbon and Reclaim These Streets: paving the way for women’s safety in North East Lincolnshire

The Council is paving the way for improved safety for women across the borough with initiatives, events and everything in-between.

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a key issue across the country. The National Audit Office states that at least 1 in 12 women are victims of gender-based violence every year and 20% of all police recorded crime relates to VAWG.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is working with partners to reduce the level of VAWG in the borough.

The CSP works across the community, focusing on areas where safety for residents can be furthered. Whether that be increased street lighting, improved CCTV or the introduction of Safer Streets Ambassadors to support people feeling vulnerable in the night time economy.

In addition, the Council has made huge steps forward in solidifying its target to improve safety across the borough through a number of ways. It is now accredited by White Ribbon, the UK’s leading charity in engaging men and boys to reduce violence against women and girls. This includes champions at all levels of the Council committed to creating positive change and encouraging everyday conversations around healthy relationships and misogyny.

However, it’s not just about becoming partners or championing various schemes. The CSP recently hosted a “Reclaim the Streets” walk aiming to raise awareness in the local community. Over 200 people attended the walk in Cleethorpes on Friday, 21^st March, lighting up the night with glow sticks and encouraging conversations.

The CSP also implemented Ask for Angela across licenced premises including pubs and bars, allowing customers to discretely ask for help from staff. When a customer asks at the bar for “Angela” the staff can subtly get them to a safe place away from who is making them uncomfortable and can ring police or allow them to leave through another exit undetected.

In local education settings, programmes have been delivered to educate young people on VAWG and how to tackle it. Both Banter training – looking at the difference between banter and sexual harassment – and bystander awareness training have been delivered to over 4,000 young people.

In February, the CSP hosted a Women’s Empowerment networking event at Grimsby Town Hall. A variety of speakers attended the event including Humberside Police, North East Lincolnshire’s Family Hubs, and The Equality Practice who talked about their work empowering women to believe in themselves, and gave an opportunity for networking with new contacts.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities said “With levels of VAWG on the rise across the UK, it is important we make an impact in our borough.

“Having attended the Reclaim the Streets walk myself, it was inspiring to see so many people, especially men, show up and make a difference. In fact, men and boys are essential in combatting this problem by speaking out against harm, challenging their peers, and being positive role models.

“The work the CSP does is so important in making the lives of women and girls in North East Lincolnshire safer. It is essential that we as a community work together to achieve this.”

To help someone experiencing harassment, the best way is to remember the 5 D’s of bystander intervention:

•  Direct
  • Speak up about the harassment if you are safe to do so

• Distract
  • Interrupt or start a conversation to de-escalate the situation

• Delegate
  • Get help from someone else around you. Be firm and clear in asking them for help

• Document
  • It can be helpful for the victim to have detailed notes of the incident

• Delay
  • After the incident is over, check in with the victim to see if there is anything you can do.

For more information on Violence Against Women and Girls and the work the North East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership does visit: https://safernel.co.uk/safer-and-stronger-communities/ or email nelcsp@nelincs.gov.uk