Council launches Women's Safety Charter

The development of a Women’s Safety Charter is an initiative by Broadland District Council aimed at reducing Violence Against Women and Girls across the district.

Councillor Natasha Harpley said:

“Violence against women and girls is completely unacceptable and as a Council we must do all we can to keep our residents safe. We want to work together with our communities and local organisations to help us and their input will be a vital first step to inform and shape the Charter. We will also be offering training, and we will be asking local businesses and organisations to commit to creating and promoting “safer spaces”."

The project will gather views from the community to shape the content of the charter and use this feedback to create safer environments for women and girls. The Council will be working with businesses, leisure facilities, community groups, and other interested parties.

The Council wants to create an environment across Broadland where women and girls feel confident that their safety is prioritised. The charter will be developed in collaboration with an external body and focus on highlighting key areas where input is needed to create a culture of safety.

The project will involve extensive community engagement through surveys, focus groups, and events helping to tailor the charter to the specific needs of the district. The charter then aims to address safety concerns, outside of criminal activities, by fostering positive actions to create a culture where women and girls feel safe.

Initially, the Council is asking residents to complete a survey.

Police Superintendent, Terry Lordon said:

“Targeting violence against women and girls and creating safer spaces is a priority for the police. We support proactive work to improve feelings of safety in our community and are pleased to support the survey.”

Training and resources will be made available for ongoing use, ensuring the charter’s relevance and effectiveness over a sustained period of time.