A NEW ‘Walk and Talk’ scheme has been launched across Bromsgrove and Redditch by West Mercia Police to reinforce its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The project, which spans north Worcestershire, including Kidderminster and Stourport, was first launched in Telford last year.
Walk and Talk allows women to reach out to a female police officer who will organise a walk with them in their neighbourhood. The walk provides the opportunity for them to point out areas they may feel unsafe and talk about them with the police.
The walks, which last around 30 minutes, can be flexible, taking place at times when women feel most vulnerable while out. This could be early morning or late evening, when it is darker, there is less traffic on the roads and fewer people are on the streets.
Girls under 18 are also invited onto the scheme if accompanied by a parent, sister or other guardian over 18.
Walk and Talk aims to invite women and girls into a safe environment where they can openly discuss their experiences and concerns.
Insp Richard Field said: “It is important 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 provided, 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.”
The Telford pilot was successful and enabled an opportunity to discuss local anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots, domestic abuse safety planning and the fear of crime in a particular area.
The Walk and Talk north Worcestershire launch last week coincided with National Stalking Awareness Week.
Stalking and harassment are serious crimes which can have a devastating effect on the lives of victims and their friends and family.
West Mercia Police says it is committed to doing everything possible to bring offenders to justice and protect victims.
VAWG officer for North Worcestershire DC Natalie Welch, one of the officers participating in Walk and Talk, said it was an exciting scheme, adding she was looking forward to meeting the women in her community and helping them feel safer.
She added: “We are passionate about building trust in our communities and creating safe environments for women and girls.”
Anyone interested in taking part in a north Worcestershire Walk and Talk should email walk [email protected]. Officers can be plain-clothed if it makes participants feel safer.
