New app for women's safety launches in Maidstone
The app WalkSafe has helped women report more than 65,000 "real-time" safety concerns in South Yorkshire
A new personal safety app has been launched in Maidstone as part of ongoing efforts to tackle violent crimes against women and girls.
WalkSafe is free to download and is already being used to help keep women and girls safe in more than 35 towns and cities across England.
From 12 September, it is launched in Maidstone, helping users to locate safe spaces and quickly report incidents or safety concerns.
Residents and visitors of the town can use the app’s ‘Safety Map’ to plan the safest route while travelling through the area.
Journeys can be shared with friends and family, and the app sends automatic alerts if the user does not arrive home on time.
The map lists venues, such as bars and restaurants, which have been accredited as a "safe space".
These sites make use of initiatives such as ‘Ask For Angela’, whereby asking for ‘Angela’ is a discreet way of asking for help.
In South Yorkshire, from June 2023-24, more than 65,000 "real-time events" were logged on the app, meaning a user has shared a journey or used the app's safety map feature.
CEO, Emma Kay, tells Greatest Hits and Hits Radio, the app is "going from strength to strength".
Emma says: ‘Eighty-one per cent of women who visit pubs, clubs and bars consider their safety when getting home.
‘Especially with the dark nights coming in, it's raining and miserable, and I think we can sometimes feel a little bit more frightened, unsafe, and cautious in the winter months, so having a free app can be your best friend in your back pocket, should you need it.
'I've had a lot of lived experience myself, multiple cases of sexual harassment when walking home from a night out.
'Those experiences have driven me to not only create the app, but hope that people can share it and find value in it.
"I always urge my male listeners to be an ally and download, and intercept notifications for other people in your life who may need it.
PC Lauren Snoek, who is leading the initiative, said:
‘WalkSafe not only arms users with information and tools to keep them safe but helps trusted friends and family keep track of their loved ones to make sure they get home safely.
‘When users make reports via the app, we are given greater insight into types of offences being committed and potential crime hotspots, so we can better focus our resources. The information also helps WalkSafe more accurately identify the safest routes.
‘Alongside increased foot patrols, higher visibility policing, and continued work with partners, the WalkSafe initiative will help in our ongoing efforts to make our community safer.’