Funding to increase safety of women across West Yorkshire’s public transport

Efforts to improve the safety of women and girls across West Yorkshire’s public transport network have received a significant funding boost.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership with local Community Safety Partnerships, West Yorkshire Police and local groups, have been awarded £215k funding from the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund.

The funding will see a programme of interventions delivered between January and March 2022, with the aim of creating sustainable change.

This will include introducing a bus safety reporting tool, a male behaviour change campaign focused on the night-time economy, active upstander training for night-time economy staff, and an ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign.

There will also be a number of localised projects in Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds involving taxi marshals, women’s safety hubs, street marshals, the development of a Pub Watch scheme and taxi standards work.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: ‘This is absolutely marvellous news and a real coup for partnership working within West Yorkshire. It brings ever more focus upon the issue of safety for women and girls, with some truly tangible results.

‘It will make a genuine difference to local people, supporting and improving experiences of women and girls on our public transport network. This will work alongside the Safer Streets Funding we’ve received, which will improve women and girls’ safety in parks and across educational institutions.

‘This mean’s we’ve been able to commit £870,000 to support our communities and businesses on this important pledge in my first six months as Mayor.’

Deputy mayor for policing and crime in West Yorkshire, Alison Lowe, added: ‘To deliver this programme of interventions, we will be working with all 5 district local authorities and their wider community safety partnerships.

‘It will also see close collaboration with West Yorkshire Police, women and girls’ groups, transport providers, including taxis, night-time economy venues and business improvement districts. All the hard work in preparing this bid has paid off for the people of West Yorkshire and I am delighted that we have collectively been able to achieve this money.’

In related news, people who have experienced domestic abuse in Sheffield have helped shape the city’s latest long-term plan for providing safe accommodation.

Photo by Alexander Popov