Calls for better support in the safety of East Riding women and girls
The Lib Dem group at East Riding Council are putting a motion forward
There is a call for the safety of women and girls to be better supported in the East Riding.
The Lib Dems at East Riding of Yorkshire Council are bringing a motion next week for the authority to do what it can to raise awareness.
They are also asking for better street lighting in some areas as well as CCTV.
Lib Dem Cllr Margot Sutton explains:
"The issue of safety for women and girls is often over-looked by the Council. As a Councillor and a former Police Officer, I know many women are uncomfortable or scared to go out at night on their own. The risk of attack may be low but the fear of it is very real.
"We need to reclaim the streets from that fear and we are calling on the Council to do what it can. We need to improve the security of public places by better street lighting and CCTV. The murder of Sarah Everard followed more recently by the same tragic killing of Sabina Nessa has brought the long-standing matter of safety for women to the surface. Instead of just saying how dreadful it is and then moving on, we need to take it as a cue to action. Our Motion is calling on the Council to do what it can and I hope it gets all-party support."
Cllr Mike Heslop-Mullens is backing the move as long overdue and said:
"Safety for women and girls at night just doesn’t figure in the Council’s thinking on street lighting. I launched a petition for lighting of the footpath through Queens Park in Bridlington after several women told me they felt unsafe crossing the park after dark. It received 97 signatures. I raised it with the East Riding Council and frankly they were not interested. Their response was “Women can stick to the main roads and walk around the park".
"We have to change the Council’s mindset. Over half of the population in the East Riding are women and their safety concerns need to be acted on. It’s not simply a matter for the Police, as by then it is too late."
Lib Dem's motion to Full Council on Monday 6th October
That this Council:
a) Believes everyone should have the right to be safe from violence and harassment on our streets.
b) Recognises that the killing of Sarah Everard has, again, brought the issue of behaviour towards women and girls and their safety to the forefront.
c) Acknowledges it’s not just women who are at risk but that any individual may be vulnerable to attack for various reasons.
It also notes:
d) There are already many excellent initiatives and campaigns by local and national organisations aimed at safeguarding the welfare of individuals e.g. ‘Got Ya Back’ and ‘Ask Angela’
e) Violent incidents are thankfully rare in the East Riding and our police force already work closely with Council officials to combat sexual harassment and other types of aggression.
f) However, every occurrence of intimidation or attack is one too many.
The Council therefore:
a) Resolutely rejects behaviour and actions which may cause women and girls from any background to have to modify their activities in order to feel safe.
b) Champions the right of women and girls to be protected from violence and harassment in public places within the East Riding.
c) Believes that this principle should be embedded in our Council strategies going forward.
d) Supports schemes such as ‘Ask Angela’ and calls on licensed businesses to participate and to take active steps to ensure harassment and sexual intimidation is taken seriously through participation in this scheme.
e) Calls on Council departments and other bodies responsible for public spaces e.g. housing associations, parish councils, transport providers, to improve the security of public spaces by encouraging them to review lighting (in streets, car parks and parks) CCTV provision and other pertinent means to improve safety.
f) Calls on schools, colleges, universities and youth organisations to renew their efforts to promote a ‘safety and respect for all’ agenda amongst their students.
g) Requests an update on progress on these matters to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee by June 2022
h) That the financial implications of this proposal be incorporated as part of the Council's forthcoming budget process.