Yahoo News Police keeping late nights safe for women and young girls in Plymouth
In the wake of a series of appalling incidents in Plymouth which brought the issue of violence against women and girls to the fore, local police teams are using a range of tactics to clamp down on predatory men.
The horrific murder of Bobbi-Anne McLeod, the mass shooting in Keyham, and a series of terrifying murders and sexual assaults on women in the last few years highlighted the need for action, resulting in the creation of a Plymouth Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Commission and the appointment of a Violence Against Women and Girls Commission lead.
However, the action on the ground has not been neglected and local police teams have been working closely with partner agencies and local businesses to create a safe environment, where people don’t feel at risk of becoming a victim of crime. The team have a particular emphasis on ensuring that women and girls feel safe, as information shows its females who feel most vulnerable.
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They have continued to employ Project Vigilant which was first used in Oxford by Thames Valley Police and saw officers patrol alleyways, side streets and parks around the pubs and clubs of Thames Valley's major conurbations, while also upskilling the security staff of venues so they could better tackle this odious behaviour themselves rather than leave the problem just to the police.
The project also saw specially trained male and female officers go 'undercover' to seek out the predatory men in the city's clubs and bar, putting them on the back foot and fearing the person they are targeting may not be as vulnerable as they hoped.
Det Insp Kev Morley said: "The nightlife in the city is very popular and there is always a great atmosphere and buzz in the air. However, whilst the majority of people enjoy their night without any interactions with the police, it’s usual for us to see an increase of reports of offences relating to alcohol, drugs and violence.
"One of our priorities at this time of day is to keep everyone safe, especially women and young girls. We have put activities in place, including increased patrols, to make sure our officers are doing what they can to ensure that people, particularly women and girls, feel safe and are able to enjoy themselves."
Insp Dom Nicholls, who heads up the neighbourhood policing team, said: "Many of our officers have received training on Project Vigilant, our forces response to tackling violence, abuse and intimidation against women and girls in the evenings and late nights. The training means officers are highly skilled in identifying predatory behaviour, particularly towards women and us taking proactive action to prevent behaviour from escalating into an offence.
"Whilst on patrol, our officers will use a range of tactics which are all intelligence led. Intelligence can come to us via public reports, from staff at key venues, and from CCTV operators who spot a vehicle or a person approaching someone who is vulnerable.
"Violence, sexual violence and abuse will not be tolerated within our communities and we take these crimes very seriously. Our officers will be out on patrol in the city during the evenings, both in uniform and also in plain clothes, patrolling bars and streets to identify individuals looking to commit these crimes and protect the public from harm."
Det Insp Morley added: "All of our patrol routes are intelligence and crime report led, so we know that officers are located in areas and times where crime would be most likely to occur. This means they can effectively safeguard the public and prevent crime from happening."
Officers not only patrol busy areas, but they also target quieter places such as streets and alley ways.
Det Insp Morley added: "It’s important we also conduct our patrols in quieter locations, as people use these routes to get home. We can find people who are in a vulnerable state using these walkways too, so by having our officers patrol these routes, we can provide safeguarding support to ensure they get home safely."
Earlier this year, Devon and Cornwall Police launched ‘Walk and Talk’, a new trial initiative to encourage women over the age of 18 to speak to the police about areas where they feel unsafe. As part of the initiative, a female police officer will accompany local women as they walk through an area they have concerns about.
Insp Dom Nicholls said: "This is such an important scheme for us. Not only does it help us understand where women feel unsafe in the city, but it also gives us valuable insight about why they feel this way. Knowing why helps us work effectively within our police teams and alongside our partners, like the local council, to look at these issues and devise a plan to tackle them.”
The ‘Walk and Talk’ trial runs until the end of May 2024. To find out more, email: walkandtalk@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Other partnership safeguarding initiatives that are in place include:
Plymouth Safe Bus: this service is based outside Theatre Royal and is available every Saturday night between 10pm-4am. The bus is staffed by trained paramedics, support staff and security staff. This is a safe space for anyone to visit during a night out if they’re feeling unwell, have injured themselves or need to step away from the pubs or clubs.
Plymouth Street Pastors : Street pastors are a group of volunteers who regularly walk the busy streets of Plymouth, providing care, help and a listening ear to those who need it. To date, they have provided help to over 300 assault victims, administered first aid more than 1,000 times and given reassurance, advice and directions to over 2,000 people.
Plymouth Night Patrol : The Night Patrol is made up of a group of trained volunteer students from Plymouth University who patrol the city in small groups from 9pm to 4.30am on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The team provide welfare and medical support to student peers as well as the wider community.
Det Insp Morley said: "Tackling violence against women and girls during the evenings is a priority for us and it will remain a priority for the foreseeable future. Our officers continue their proactive work to ensure Plymouth remains a safe place for all, and we will be taking further action to make the city even safer.
"Please continue to report any behaviour that looks suspicious. We take all reports very seriously, and they can help us to identify and arrest people who look to cause harm to the public and vulnerable people."
Insp Nicholls added: "We are here to help. If you are on a night out and you need support - speak with our officers.
"Please also make use of the other support initiatives in place, like the Safe Bus. We’re very grateful to all the volunteers who help make sure these fantastic initiatives stay up and running to support the safety of the public and women and girls.
"So, if you’re on a night out in Plymouth – have a great time, but please make sure you keep safe. Help and support is available if you need it."
If you have any information or concerns about crime in Plymouth, please report it to Devon & Cornwall Police online via the website or by calling 101. You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555111. Your information could help save a life. If a crime is taking place, call 999.
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