19 Nov 10 practical steps for London businesses to keep women safe after dark
10 practical steps for London businesses to keep women safe after dark
As the nights draw in, women across London tell us they feel more vulnerable when travelling, socialising or working after hours. The Women’s Night Safety Charter exists to change that, but the difference is only made when businesses put words into action.
Here are 10 practical steps every organisation can take this autumn and winter to make staff, customers and the public safer, drawn from our work with thousands of Charter signatories across London.
- Sign up to the Women’s Night Safety Charter
Joining the Charter means becoming part of a 3,000-strong network of organisations committed to tackling violence against women and girls.
It’s the first step for any business serious about change. Signatories gain access to training, resources and best practice – plus the credibility of being visibly aligned with London-wide safety measures.
- Keep training up to date
Empower your teams to spot vulnerability and step in safely by accessing our training.
From WAVE (Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement) to Ask for Angela and Active Bystander Intervention, staff training makes a real difference.
In McDonald’s, for example, staff working late shifts are often met with abuse from drunk customers. Frontline workers told us how prepared they felt after intervention training when handling late-night harassment.
Our Active Bystander training is delivered by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and is free to those who sign up to the Charter. It’s only 30 minutes and staff have reported feeling more confident in stepping in during incidents, even in subtle cases such as comforting women who were upset on public transport.
- Check security equipment
CCTV, radios, alarms and body-worn cameras all help prevent incidents – but only if they’re working. Too often, gaps are only spotted after something has happened.
By carrying out routine checks and ensuring policies are up to date, staff are able to spot and stop incidents, and collect vital intelligence and evidence.
In retail environments, young women reported harassment even in stores with security staff present. Businesses that invest in well-monitored CCTV and visible female security staff send a strong deterrent message.
Security staff, particularly women at venues such as Merlin Entertainments, have told us how much safer they and the public feel when technology is reliable and well-managed.
Working at places like the London Eye means Merlin staff encounter people from multicultural backgrounds. And some cultures really appreciate seeing a female security guard, so to be able to keep these staff safe and wanting to stay in their posts means visitors will also have a more comfortable experience.
- Promote Safe Havens
There are now more than 200 Safe Havens across London. These are places anyone can step into if they feel threatened and range from shops and cafes to libraries.
Promoting awareness inside your venue or workplace could make the difference for someone in need. Even better, your organisation could become a Safe Haven. It sends a powerful signal that your organisation is part of the solution.
- Ensure well-lit and safe routes
Simple environmental factors, like lighting in car parks, secure staff entrances and clear sightlines, play a huge role in how safe women feel.
In our focus groups, women consistently raised concerns about walking home in poorly lit areas.
In a Greenwich University focus group we held, students described taking long detours to avoid unlit streets after night shifts. Partnering with local councils to fix lighting near student-heavy areas could be a quick win.
Businesses can work with councils, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and landlords to identify and fix problem spots.
- Provide safe travel options
For women finishing late shifts, the journey home is often the most stressful part of the night. Employers can help by covering late-night taxis, running lift-share schemes, or pointing staff towards safe transport initiatives.
Although this could be seen as an extra expense, it can actually help businesses because it reduces the number people dropping out of shifts at the last minute.
One simple action – such as reminding staff of the British Transport Police’s 61016 text service – can offer reassurance.
- Plan ahead for festive events
As Christmas party season approaches, venues and employers must build safety into their planning.
We’ve worked with major football clubs and hospitality venues to help them embed safeguarding into big events. Tottenham Hotspur’s signing of the Charter came with renewed safeguarding policies around matchday and event nights.
Businesses hosting parties can borrow this approach – that means trained staff, clear safeguarding policies and a clear point of contact on the night in case of incidents.
- Communicate support clearly
Staff need to know exactly where to turn if something happens.
Whether it’s an internal safeguarding lead, a helpline, or external reporting routes, these should be visible and regularly shared.
Too often, women don’t report harassment because they don’t know who will listen or what will happen next. Making and sharing clear procedures can change that.
- Encourage a speak-up culture
Harassment, catcalling, intimidation, or other unwanted behaviour is unacceptable and both women and men should feel confident challenging this without a fear of retaliation.
But culture doesn’t change overnight – it takes leadership.
To enact change, businesses must model a zero-tolerance stance, reward staff who raise concerns and ensure complaints are acted upon swiftly and respectfully.
- Work in partnership
No business can tackle women’s safety alone. Collaboration with local authorities, police, BIDs, transport operators and community groups makes us stronger.
We’ve seen how cross-sector partnerships – from signing up all London Premier League football clubs, to working with retail and hospitality venues – amplify the impact and share responsibility.
This winter, let’s make sure Londoners know their workplaces, venues, and public spaces are looking out for them. Signing the Charter is a start, but embedding these 10 steps into daily practice is how we move from commitment to real change.
Together, we can make London a city where women are not only safe, but feel safe, day and night.