New Worcestershire 'Walk and Talk' scheme launched to help keep women safe
West Mercia Police first launched the scheme in Telford
A new ‘Walk and Talk’ initiative is being launched across North Worcestershire as West Mercia Police reinforces its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The initiative was first launched in Telford last year and is now being introduced in Kidderminster, Stourport, Bromsgrove, Redditch and surrounding areas.
Walk and Talk allows female members of the public to reach out to a female police officer who will organise a walk with them in their neighbourhood. The walk gives the opportunity to point out areas they may feel unsafe and talk about these with police.
The walks can be flexible and will last around thirty minutes, taking place at times when women feel most vulnerable while out. This could be early in the morning or late in the evening, when it is darker, less traffic on the roads and fewer people on the streets.
Girls who are under the age of eighteen are also invited onto the scheme if they are accompanied by a parent, a sister over the age of eighteen, or another guardian.
Walk and Talk aims to invite women and girls into a safe environment where they can openly discuss their experiences and concerns.
Inspector Richard Field said: “It is important that we understand local concerns and give women and girls a safe space where they can feel heard. We want our communities to regularly see and get to know their local officers to help build trust and confidence.
“From the information they provide we can liaise with key partners to assess these concerns and where possible, fix them. We want the public to know we are here to protect and keep them safe.”