Concerns have been raised about women’s safety on the streets of Cardiff, Wales. A student named Nikita said that she avoids walking alone at night after being chased by an unknown man. After publicising her incident on a Facebook group, she discovered that other women had similar stories but had felt too ashamed, embarrassed or scared to talk about them. She expressed that her biggest fear was “not being believed, or being told that I am silly or paranoid”.
Some women who took part in the “Reclaim the Night” march in Cardiff said they felt that the city was not a safe place for women. A survey conducted by For Cardiff found that 20% of women in the city avoid going out after dark due to concerns for their safety. The group has created a 24-hours safety charter to help businesses in the city support the initiative to ensure women feel safe in the area.
Cardiff councillor for Grangetown Ashley Lister said that women’s safety in the area requires a collaborative effort. South Wales Police have been actively involved in trying to ensure women’s safety in Cardiff. £750,000 of funding has been secured for a range of new initiatives to help keep women safe. “Policing can’t do this alone”, said Supt Arabella Rees from South Wales Police. “It is really important that we continue to work with our partners in order to face down the challenges that violence against women and girls presents in our city,” said Rees.
Despite these concerns, some women still feel that Cardiff is safe. Bethan, 23, said she felt safer in Cardiff than other cities, whilst Sarah, 44, had never had any problems and felt comfortable in the city. Cardiff council believes and states that it is “among the safest” places in the UK, but reviews and efforts to improve safety for women are being promised.
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