Wiltshire Police has introduced its first Walk and Talk programme, a new initiative aimed at creating safer communities for women across the county.
Walk and Talk asks women aged 18 and over: ‘Is there a place you feel unsafe? Take us there’, enabling officers to assess and address concerns directly.
The inaugural Walk and Talk took place in North Swindon on Friday, 29th November, led by Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Thorne, who was joined by two local women from the South Asian community, Taj and Karam. Both women are involved in Changing Suits, an organisation committed to raising awareness about domestic abuse and breaking down cultural barriers.
Understanding Local Concerns
DCI Thorne outlined the importance of this initiative, saying: “This project is designed to continually improve our understanding of local issues, so we can all work together to make changes. Working with our partners in each local authority in Wiltshire and Swindon, it is our role to not only prevent and detect crime but also to make our communities feel safe.
“Sadly, we know that just being a female can make people feel unsafe and we want to understand what we can do to improve that.
“We will be conducting walk and talks with women from a range of backgrounds focusing on the different barriers that a woman could feel due to her age or background.
“It could be caused by range of things from poor lighting to anti-social behaviour. We can then share this information with partners to consider how we can work together to support changes and improvements being made.
A Personal Approach
The programme aims to tackle barriers that women face based on age, background, or cultural differences. Personal interaction through Walk and Talk sessions provides officers with a unique perspective on safety issues, which can inform preventative measures and support community improvements.
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson also commented on the initiative: “It’s too easy to tell women and girls that they are safe, but they need to feel safe too.
“Through the Walk and Talk initiative, Wiltshire Police is placing resources where they are most needed. With additional funding from the government’s Hotspot Response Fund, we’re further targeting anti-social behaviour and serious violence in high-risk areas.”
How You Can Get Involved
Walk and Talk sessions last around 30 minutes and will be held quarterly throughout Wiltshire. Women are encouraged to participate by contacting Wiltshire Police or anonymously reporting unsafe spaces via the StreetSafe app.
This initiative highlights Wiltshire Police’s commitment to working closely with the community to create safer environments, ensuring that women and girls feel both secure and supported in their day-to-day lives.
