Night Safety

There are a number of initiatives taking place in Westminster as well as across the capital to boost night time safety – especially important during this period of darker evenings and as we head towards the busy festive time of year.  

Businesses: Ensure your voices are heard regarding Evening and Night-time initiatives

A locally focused discussion group will be taking place in January, for local businesses to meet with the Council project team to put forward insights and ideas to be considered as part of the creation of the Westminster Night-time Stakeholder Assembly and the development of a wider Westminster evening and night-time plan. Discussion topics will include improving safety and feelings of safety, empowering and celebrating diverse communities and culture, as well as balancing economic growth with the needs and desires of the whole community. We will be arranging this meeting in partnership with our neighbours Harley Street BID and we encourage as many as possible to get involved to ensure that the voices of local businesses are heard in this consultation alongside residents. Get in touch for more information and to express an interest in attending. 

Following on from this discussion, The Evening and Night-time Stakeholder Assembly will bring together a diverse group of residents and business representatives to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Westminster after dark.  The assembly is part of Westminster City Council’s Westminster After Dark initiative that aims to create an inclusive evening and night-time plan to improve the safety of those that live here, work locally, particularly relevant to those working in hospitality, who manage a business in the area, or out enjoying the local restaurants, bars and nightlife.  

Assembly Members will have the opportunity to present their recommendations to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members. The recommendations will be used to create Westminster’s first Evening and Night-time Plan and Assembly Members will be updated on progress that happens as a result.  

Register your interest in joining the assembly here. Those selected to take part will receive £250 as a gift of thanks for donating their time. Registrations close on 1 December and the first session is scheduled to take place on 27 January, followed by 3 and 10 February. The Westminster after dark plan will lever policy changes in the future, so its vital businesses are represented

Westminster Night Safety Accreditation 

Also part of Westminster City Council’s Night Safety campaign, they have introduced a self-assessment accreditation for businesses in the borough, focused on increasing safety for women in the night time economy. The online questionnaire covers themes including the types of safety and vulnerability training the business provides to staff, how the businesses avoids communications that include victim-blaming language, and the processes and procedures in place to deal with the reporting of incidents of sexual harassment, both of staff and customers. Once the assessment is completed, the businesses will receive a report detailing this score alongside resources and support with ongoing improvements. 

When a business becomes accredited it will be able to use the Westminster Night Safety Accreditation logo in their communications. This will show that they have committed to meet high standards required to help keep women safe in their premises at night, adding an extra layer of reassurance for customers. 

Find out more and take the self-assessment accreditation here.  

Women’s Night Safety Charter 

The Mayor’s Women’s Night Safety Charter (WNSC) aims to make London a city where all women feel confident and welcome at night and is part of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and London’s commitment to the UN Women Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces global initiative. Any organisations that operate at night can sign-up to the Charter, with commitments to simple pledges such as staff training, communicating with customers, encouraging reporting by victims and bystanders and designing your public spaces and work places to make them safer for women at night.  

They have worked with the Good Night Out Campaign to produce a toolkit, which offers simple ideas, inspiration, information and resources to help organisations meet the seven pledges. 

Baker Street Quarter Partnership is a signatory of the Charter and we encourage our members to do the same. Find out more information and sign up here.