LevellerLive

Avon & Somerset Police have launched a pilot ‘Walk and talk’ initiative in Somerset. The scheme was introduced by Police Sergeant Roseanna Green from the Wincanton and Somerton Neighbourhood Team. The intention is to build trust between the force and women residents. It also seeks to help the police to understand which areas women do not feel comfortable or safe in. 

The force is inviting women aged 18 and above who live in Somerset to get in touch. They will be paired with a female officer to take a walk at a mutually convenient time. The walks are flexible and will last around 30 minutes, they can take place any time of day. That includes early morning or evening as these are often times when women feel most vulnerable.

Members of the public are also encouraged to report areas in which they feel unsafe via StreetSafe. This is a website and phone app: StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk). People can report either environmental or behavioural issues in their local communities that lead to them feeling vulnerable or unsafe. These will be fed back to the police to look at what they can do, along with partner agencies, to improve women’s safety on our streets.

Police Sergeant Roseanna Green said: “We know there are women out there who don’t feel completely safe walking the streets. We want those women to know what we will listen and that we are committed to doing all we can to make our streets safer. We want to take the time to have a proper conversation and build an understanding of the concerns and worries that women and girls are facing in our communities to help us bring some positive and proactive change on our streets.”