A new app, Start Safe, Stay Safe, has been launched to improve street safety in York and North Yorkshire. It offers a straightforward, and confidential way for members of the public to report street, town and city centre incidents. It also enables authorities to quickly identify patterns of abuse and criminal behaviour and help them to respond more effectively.
The app developed by Stop Hate UK was funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by City of York Council, North Yorkshire Council, North Yorkshire Police and Leaders Unlocked.
The app has been designed to help more people in York and North Yorkshire report street harassment and feel safer in public spaces.
Street harassment primarily affects women and girls but the app can be used by anyone who may have been a victim or witnessed harassment in public spaces.
York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, said:
“Street based harassment has no place in our region. The Mayor and I are determined to ensure everyone in our region feels safe. But we know that too often, for women and girls in particular, the streets, town and city centres don’t feel safe, and many incidents go unreported.
“This app will help the police and other agencies get better evidence of incidents that take place, ultimately enabling them to do more to tackle violence against women and girls.
“Anyone who experiences street harassment in our region can now report it via the app which I hope will lead to more people reporting unacceptable behaviour. But there’s much more to do and I will continue to work with partners to look for other measures that can be put in place to make our streets, town and city centres safe places for everyone.”
Rose Simkins, Chief Executive of Stop Hate UK, said:
“All forms of Hate Crime are significantly under-reported and some individuals and even whole communities are reluctant or unwilling to talk to the police or their council.
“The award-winning app gives people who experience or witness harassment, Hate Crime or Hate Incidents a safe and independent place to seek advice and support and explore their options for taking things further.
“Contact with our app might be the first time an individual has sought support about the things they are experiencing. Other people may have tried to get help but find they are not satisfied with the response they received.
“We can support people who feel they have nowhere else to turn or when other services are closed or busy and give people an easy way to report. We are committed to working with agencies and organisations across the County to reach more people. No one should have to suffer hate, harassment or discrimination in silence.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Scott from North Yorkshire Police said:
“It’s vitally important that people feel safe across North Yorkshire and the introduction of the Start Safe / Stay Safe app is only going to enhance that.
“Working with our partners it’s important that we do everything we can to prevent incidents taking place. We will listen to all information which is passed to us and where appropriate robustly pursue any offences to achieve a criminal justice outcome.”
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Safer Communities at City of York Council, said:
“This new easy-to-use app makes reporting all forms of street harassment simple and fast. It not only supports women and girls, but for all those who experience verbal abuse including hate-related harassment. I’d encourage everyone to download it. Introducing the app is another action that we can take in York, a Purple Flag city and one of the UK’s safest.”
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, whose responsibilities include community safety, said:
“The introduction of this app will support a number of priorities within the North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership, specifically our determination to ensure people and communities across the county remain safe.”
Emily Blavins, Women Unlocked, said:
“It’s great to see the Combined Authority taking street harassment seriously. The young women on Women Unlocked reviewed the app and found it a great way to reduce barriers to reporting and are keen to get their friends and peers downloading it too. We think it will make a huge difference in empowering women to both report and access much needed support. “
York and North Yorkshire Start Safe, Stay Safe app
The app is free to download and available 24-hours a day to people affected by street harassment in public places to report their experiences and get independent support and advice.
It will enable users to:
- Report anonymously for information only
- Access specialist support
- Capture audio, video and picture evidence
- Report the incident for formal investigation by police or council
It also provides a route through to Stop Hate UK 24/7 helpline providing further guidance on support and reporting. The Street Harassment App increases reporting from those individuals and communities who are reluctant to report directly to the police or other statutory agencies.
Download the app from Apple Store:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/start-safe-stay-safe/id6740459349
Download the app from Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stophateuk