Penzance pub calls for further training to keep women and girls safe from violence
It comes on the twelfth day of activism against gender-based violence
A Penzance pub manager is urging venues in Cornwall to take up bystander training to prevent violence against woman and girls.
It comes as part of sixteen days of activism against gender-based violence.
Ryan Larter is the General Manager for the Longboat Inn and chair of Pub Watch in Penzance, who have been involved in this year's activism for the first time.
Staff across venues have been taught a range of tools to safely support or challenge behaviours in their day-to-day roles in the evening and night-time economy, alongside Safer Cornwall.
"It would make women and children feel safer"
He told us: "I don't just think it's down to the sixteen days of awareness, it needs to be an all-round thing, it needs to be a constant reminder for everybody.
"Whether that's putting posters up in our establishment or taking part in courses every six-months".
Marches and vigils have taken place across Cornwall and Devon across the past twelve days - including in Penzance, Newquay and Plymouth - to stand in solidarity with those who've experienced and/or lost their lives to gender-based violence.
Ryan says it's not just an issue we should think about once a year:
"The more staff that get trained, I think more customers will feel safer especially the women and children who potentially have been affected or might've been through it themselves.
He's calling on other venues to follow suit and for training and awareness courses to take place multiple times each year.
Ryan added: "It would make them feel safer in our environment and that's what we always want".
Training sessions have been supported by councillor Thalia Marrington for Mousehole, Newlyn and St Buryan - who says it's particularly important for people to feel safe when alcohol is involved.
She said: "What we've done in Penzance is hold these training sessions for pubs and what I've thought is next year we want this for all of the pubs to be involved locally.
"I really did sit there and think that was three or four pubs, but if that was thirty or all the pubs, you would feel safer. You would feel as if there were eyes just looking and observing when things go on".