More needs to be done to protect women during Cheltenham Festival, says charity

A Gloucestershire charity says more needs to be done to protect women during the Cheltenham Festival.

Over 250,000 people are expected to embark on Prestbury Park this week as the easing of coronavirus restrictions sees spectators return since 2020.

But as racegoers prepare their best outfits, it's been revealed women don't feel safe during race week with reports of sexual harrassment increasing.

Women's safety has become top of the agenda since many high profile deaths of women including Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and Ashling Murphy.

In a recent survey by Cheltenham Borough Council, 75% of women who took part said they don't feel safe during race week.

"When there are 638 responses in total, thats over 450 women who feel unsafe during race week", says Maggie Stewart, CEO of Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (GRASAC).

"We just need to start tackling this and seeing some actual action rather than just taking the data and then wait and see what happens year after year.

"We need to start looking at this a lot more seriously that we have been doing in the past."

"We need to stop victim blaming"

94% of women responding to the survey said they have changed their behaviours following incidents of sexual harrassment or assault.

Maggie Stewart says victim blaming "has to stop":

"This business of "you were wearing the wrong clothes" or "you've had too much to drink" has to stop because women should be able to wear what they like and go out and socialise how they want.

"Let's make sure we're putting the blame with those who are committing either low-level harrassment up to the more serious sexual assault and abuse."

Action must be taken now

The charity are calling for more action to tackle violence against women and girls.

Gloucestershire's PCC, Chris Nelson, has made it a priority to address the issue and the Constabulary has also launched the FLARE app which allows people to anonymously report sexual harrassment.

But during race week, Maggie Stewart thinks more could be done:

"We need posters up, text messages sent out to people attending with warnings that everyone must be respected.

"I think so much more could be done and we have worked with Gloucestershire Police again this year to provide posters which we hope will go up around the festival.

"We need an approach which includes education and prevention."

The issue of women's safety has come further under the spotlight after a Cheltenham nightclub was granted a sexual entertainment licence to provide lap dancing during race week.

Members of Cheltenham Borough Council unanimously agreed to grant the six day licence to The 2 Pigs club with councillors agreeing they were unable to reject it on a moral ground.

There were no safety incidents linked to the club and police did not raise any objections either.

What does The Jockey Club say?

In a statement, the festival organisers said: “The safety of all our racegoers and the local community is always our number one priority.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to any form of anti-social behaviour or criminal activity and work in partnership with Gloucestershire Police and other local authorities before, during and after every raceday to ensure we are doing everything in our control to support them.

“This includes promoting the ‘Flare’ app - which encourages women and girls to anonymously share their experiences of how and where they have felt unsafe – on posters, leaflets and on big screens on racedays."

Cheltenham Festival 2022

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