Greater Manchester secures funding aimed at safer streets

The money, some of which will be spent in Bolton, has been awarded by the Home Office.

The move follows the launch of the gender based violence strategy by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) last month.

The initiative aims to deal with attacks on women over the next decade. During the consultations harassment on the street and on public transport were identifies at key issues for women in the area who want to feel safer.

The Safer Streets Fund, launched by the Home Office last year, allows bodies to apply for funding for crime prevention plans.

And now the bid from the GMCA, Transport for Greater Manchester and Oldham Council will be used to respond to the issues raised.

Among the moves that will be piloted include helping people become aware how to report incidents on public transport through a live chat function, increasing security and upgrades to CCTV function.

As well as this there will be a poster campaign detailing behaviour which is unacceptable such at catcalling.

The results will be accessed and if successful the initiatives could be implemented elsewhere.

Bev Hughes, deputy major for policing, said: “The Safer Streets funding will enable us to implement several interventions to address the issues of street harassment and feelings of being unsafe on public transport that were frequently raised by women and girls during our Gender-Based Strategy public consultation and engagement process.

“GMCA has worked with partners to develop a long-term strategy to end gender-based violence and ensure Greater Manchester can be one of the best places in the world to grow up, get on and grow old.

“The Safer Streets fund pilot schemes are just the first steps in our 10-year journey to enhance the safety of women and girls, while preventing gender-based violence from happening in the first place and challenging the attitudes and inequalities that enable it.”