READING Borough Council has laid out a number of new measures to improve the safety of women and girls in the town centre.
A raft of new security measures have been put forward to help improve the safety of those in the town centre who may feel vulnerable using certain streets and routes.
The measures will see nine new CCTV cameras in areas which residents have flagged up as making them feel less safe.
These areas include on Friar Street, Chain Street, Oxford Road, and Queen’s Road Car Park.
New street lights will be installed in 12 locations, such as along Queen’s Road and Station Road, as well as festoon lighting in Chain Street and Smelly Alley (Union Street).
They have also created the MyWay Reading app which provides advice for the safest routes through town during the night.
It comes after the establishment of Reading Safe Space last month, which provides a new permanent home for both First Stop and Reading Street Pastors.
The mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Page, was joined by Reading Street Pastors co-ordinator Sally Leonard, Cllr Karen Rowland, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber, Support U’s Lorna McArdle, and Reading Minster Church’s Rvd Sonya Wratten at the opening ceremony in October.
The improvements have been made possible through a working partnership between the council, Thames Valley Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Reading’s Business Improvement District.
A Safer Students Partnership has also been created with the University of Reading and Reading College to provide free safety advice and tools and bystander intervention training to ensure students know how to safely help someone who may be in trouble.
Safety for women and girls was also one of the focuses of Reading PubWatch, which sees major stakeholders, including the council, coming together to tackle problems that businesses, customers, and local authorities face around the night-time economy.
It comes just days before the annual White Ribbon Day, set for Saturday, November 25, which encourages individuals and organisations to help women and girls live without fear of violence or predatory behaviour.
For White Ribbon Day, a stall will be open at the Reading Safe Space, Chain Street, from 10am-2pm, run by the Council and Reading BID, with Thames Valley Police and Berkshire Women’s Aid attending.
The stall will provide personal safety kits for women and girls while helping men and boys to show their support and pledge to end male violence.
A Reclaim the Night march is also due to take place in Reading town centre on the same day, which will see a vigil aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence against women.
Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services and community safety, said: “We want all Reading’s residents–women and girls who take advantage of our vibrant town centre–to be aware of the positive changes we’re making to create a better, safer Reading for them.
“There’s so much to enjoy in Reading, and we’re working hard in partnership to provide an improved, safer environment with enhanced town centre infrastructure.
“This includes our new safe hub, Reading Safe Space, more CCTV, better lighting and increased, innovative police patrols.”
She explained: “Additional safety measures such as the MyWay Reading app and anti-spiking kits that the Safer Streets partners have introduced should aid in giving women that confidence in our town centre as a place to take advantage of and enjoy.
“We’re calling on residents to get involved and make the White Ribbon promise on Saturday and help us challenge threatening and negative behaviours towards women.”
Thames Valley Police Detective Chief Inspector, Laura Corscadden, said: “Whilst Reading is a safe place to live, work and visit, these new safety initiatives are welcomed.
“The additional funding has allowed the police and partners to implement a number of measures to provide extra support and assistance to members of the public who are enjoying a night out.”
“By working together,” she explained, “we can continue to provide reassurance to our communities that Reading is a safe area and we do not tolerate those seeking to commit sexual offences.
“If you’re a victim of violence, abuse or intimidation, or know someone who is, you can contact police and partner agencies at: thamesvalley.police.uk“
