77% of young girls feel unsafe on their way to school, says Avon and Somerset Police

A recent survey by Avon and Somerset Police reveals that 77% of girls aged 11 to 17 feel unsafe on their journey to or from school.

This alarming statistic comes from focus groups conducted in local secondary schools earlier this year.

Earlier this year, focus groups with girls aged 11 to 17 were conducted in local secondary schools across Avon and Somerset, including Wells. 77% of participants felt unsafe on their journey to or from school. Public transport and parks were identified as the most common areas of concern, with unwanted attention, following, and comments about their appearance being the most frequent issues.

Nearly 50% of the girls who experienced harassment took no action, and only one reported it to the police. Additionally, one-third of the participants said they wouldn't approach a police officer if worried, citing reasons such as thinking it 'wasn't important enough,' 'feeling embarrassed,' or not wanting to draw attention to themselves.

Superintendent Lisa Simpson, Avon and Somerset Police's Lead for Safer Spaces, commented: "It was really upsetting to hear these young girls talk about their experiences and see how common harassment has become for them. This is not okay. We need to speak out against this behaviour and make it clear that harassment, in any form, is not acceptable.

"We're working with schools and other partners to make streets safer for young girls. It's important to go after those who commit violence, but stopping harmful behaviour early on is key. Women and girls should be able to live without fear."

In a continued effort to enhance community safety and foster positive relationships between students and local law enforcement, Avon and Somerset Police are introducing a new initiative starting this September, working with schools and colleges to offer 'Walk and Talk' sessions to female students.

These sessions, which are currently available to women over 18 across Avon and Somerset, involve local police officers accompanying women on walks around their local area, discussing specific areas where they have felt unsafe or experienced harassment.

This initiative helps local police teams understand safety issues better, spot repeat offenders, and encourage more people to report to the police. Avon and Somerset Police will then collaborate with the Designing Out Crime Team and local authorities to make physical improvements like more patrols, better street lighting, and increased CCTV to increase safety.

Superintendent Lisa Simpson emphasised, "It's crucial that girls feel comfortable reporting harassment or unsafe areas to us. We want them to understand that we take these matters seriously. By understanding the issues in our communities, we can take effective steps to improve safety and make our streets safer for everyone."

For more information on the Walk and Talk scheme, visit: Walk and Talk | Avon and Somerset Police.

Help and support

To address safety concerns due to environmental issues or behaviour like harassment or loitering, you can report it via Street Safe, an anonymous online tool. Reports are shared with local policing teams and discussed with local authorities to seek improvements. Alternatively, you can report harassment online at Report harassment and stalking | Avon and Somerset Police or by calling 101.

Useful personal safety apps include: