Fed rep leads campaign to make streets safer for women

11 December 2023

A West Mercia Police Federation representative on a mission to make the streets of Shropshire safer for women has given an insight into a collaborative campaign she has led aimed at challenging the behaviour and attitudes of men. 

Sergeant Zoe Wigley is said to be the ‘driving force’ behind the Safe Night Campaign, working in partnership with Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Town Council and Shrewsbury BID to create the campaign.

Funded as part of the Government’s Safer Streets 4 initiative, the campaign specifically targets younger people, including students, highlighting verbal abuse, drunken behaviour and assault. 

“We wanted to create a targeted campaign with clear messaging,” explained Zoe, who works on the safer communities team.

“But we also wanted the messaging to be tough and powerful.

“Of course, we recognised that it was going to be difficult to reach a younger demographic and so we set up focus groups with local university students, to feedback to us to help shape the campaign.

“The feedback we received was pretty eye-opening. We spoke to 18 and 19-year-olds who would overthink their outfits on a night out - worrying about their skirts being too short or tops too low, and whether that would attract the wrong attention from men.”

Supported by the Force’s campaigns and marketing officer for violence against women and girls (VAWG) Maxine Nelmes, the campaign involved a short video and posters, that were placed throughout Shropshire, in particular on buses.

Inspired by the belads campaign, the video, which has been designed to look like it has been filmed on a smartphone, shows a woman on a night out celebrating her birthday. The night soon descends into an upsetting assault, largely fuelled by alcohol. 

Zoe explained how the campaign took a ‘fresh approach’, as it spoke to men rather than women.

“The aim was to change the attitudes and behaviour of men,” she continued.

“We didn’t want to victim-blame, instead, we wanted to empower men to acknowledge and be more aware of the impact their decisions and behaviour has on those around them, especially women.

“Everyone has a responsibility and a part to play in making our streets a safer place.”

On one of the posters, the image shows a man leaning close to a clearly distressed young woman. The words say: ‘He’s too close. He’s too drunk. #Itsnotokay’ followed by ‘this could be your sister, your partner, your friend’. 

Chief inspector Tracy Ryan, of the safer communities team, said: “Challenging men to look at their own behaviour and that of their friends might feel awkward but it is something we should be talking about. 

“Looking forward, we want to continue working to make the streets of Shropshire safer. Our mission is for the VAWG initiative to be business as usual, and weaved into the everyday roles of all police officers across the Force.”

The Safe Night Out Campaign is one element of the Government’s Safer Streets 4 initiative that has been carried out by West Mercia Police. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of street pastors patrolling Shrewsbury town, plans to enhance CCTV and a permanent ‘safe space’ women can go to should they feel vulnerable.

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