Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are working with local partners to help women and girls to stay safe at night and on public transport, especially during the festive season.
On Friday 13 December, the two councils ran an information stall at Cambridge Railway Station, offering valuable resources and guidance for travelling and navigating the city in the dark. Cambridge Station is a gateway to the night-time economy for visitors from connected villages and towns.
This is just one part of the work being done in and around Cambridge to keep women and girls safe. The Businesses Against Abuse initiative has trained over 3000 people at over 300 businesses across Cambridgeshire in how to spot signs of abuse; Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Operation Armour tackles predatory behaviour that could lead to sexual assault or harassment; and the two councils’ White Ribbon accreditation sees them champion changes to men’s attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls.
For anyone heading out over the Christmas period, tips to stay safe include:
- Keep a full phone battery
- Stay together
- ‘Ask for Angela’ in a venue if you feel unsafe
- Use Street Pastors who are trained to help and support you
- Use Green Stripe Taxis to easily distinguish licensed city cabs
- Look out for taxi marshals who will help you get a licensed taxi in the city centre
- If you witness an incident at a railway station or on a train, text the British Transport Police on 61016
The event held at Cambridge Station was a joint initiative with the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the British Transport police, Dardan Security, White Ribbon, Cambridge Businesses Against Crime (CAMBAC), Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre and Businesses Against Abuse (BAA). The event was hosted by Greater Anglia and supported by Stagecoach.
Volunteers from the councils were able to speak to passersby and signpost to support available to women in Cambridge. They handed out over 50 leaflets and cards to the public, providing information on who to call if a crime is spotted, signs of abuse, and helplines.
Cllr Cameron Holloway, Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Homelessness and Wellbeing, said, “It was lovely to talk to residents and visitors at the station and provide them with advice to help them have a safe and fun time whilst out and about.
“This is just one part of the work Cambridge City Council undertakes with our partners to help tackle violence against women and girls in Greater Cambridge. Everyone has the right to feel safe, and we are committed to making sure that is the case.”
Chair of the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership, South Cambridgeshire District Cllr Susan van de Ven, said: “The stall held at Cambridge Station demonstrates the commitment that our councils have to women’s safety. All women and girls have the right to feel safe at night in our community and this is a positive step toward ensuring that anyone who needs it, has access to help and guidance.
"Public transport is an invaluable service to any community. Our Community Rail Partnership has always championed the fact that local rail is there for anyone and everyone.”
Detective Inspector Helen Tebbit, from Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Protecting Vulnerable People Department, said: “We were proud to support this important event, highlighting safety for women and girls, alongside our partners from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.
"We deal with violence against women and girls by working together in the constabulary and beyond with our partners, including local authorities. Tackling violence against women and girls is a force priority and we have officers working in dedicated safeguarding units as well our response and investigation teams to pursue reports on the front line.
"As a force, we are fully committed to prevent abuse from happening and to make the streets safer for women and girls by relentlessly pursuing perpetrators. We urge anyone who is affected by violence to come forward safe in the knowledge they will be fully supported.”
You can find more information on how to prevent violence against women and girls on the Cambridgeshire Constabulary website.
