Almost half of women in the UK feel unsafe on the streets during winter, with more than a third changing their routes at night to avoid walking home. Shocking new statistics show that around 44 percent of women feel threatened and uneasy when making everyday journeys such as commuting to work in darker conditions. In contrast, a fifth of men also report feeling unsafe. The research, conducted by security firm Mitie, found that people spend an average of £100 extra per month on alternative transportation methods to avoid walking home in the winter.
Recognizing the need for improved safety measures, personal safety app WalkSafe has teamed up with Mitie to provide an enhanced version of the software for employers to offer to their workers. The app allows worried employees to press a button when feeling uneasy in the dark, connecting them to trained responders who can provide expert advice, suggest safe spaces, and notify emergency services if necessary. WalkSafe has seen an 81 percent increase in downloads during the winter months and aims to empower individuals to protect their own safety, particularly in light of increasing incidents of violence against women and minority groups across the UK.
Violence against women and girls has escalated on an “epidemic scale” in recent years, with a 37 percent increase reported by the National Police Chief’s Council over the past five years. A new survey conducted by Opinium of 2,000 men and women revealed that being followed by a stranger and the threat of sexual assault are among the top fears for women. Common changes made by women in darker months include walking different routes, taking taxis or public transport, and driving short distances to avoid walking. The additional measures women take to ensure their safety result in an average extra cost of £100 per month.
The survey also showed that women are more likely to miss social events in order to avoid walking alone in the dark compared to men. The majority of respondents called for more to be done to improve safety on the streets, with two-thirds believing that the government and local authorities should take action. With the introduction of the Workers’ Protection Act, organizations are seeking ways to prevent harassment and create safer environments for their employees. The WalkSafe app, founded in 2020, provides essential safety information to users through an interactive map, enabling them to feel safer when out and about.
In response to the increasing demand for safety measures, the WalkSafe app has partnered with Mitie to develop an enhanced version for employers to offer their colleagues. This partnership aims to tackle the prevalence of violence against women and minority groups by providing additional support for individuals to feel safer in their daily commutes. By empowering individuals to take precautionary measures and by enabling employers to play a greater role in ensuring the safety of their workers, WalkSafe and Mitie hope to revolutionize the way in which people can travel safely and ultimately create safer communities for all to live and work in.
