The UK’s leading personal safety app which aims to help people feel safer while they’re out and about is launching in South Yorkshire.
WalkSafe will help people living in, working in and visiting Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley to plan their journeys and nights out in the safest way.
The free app shows users which mapped local venues are meeting relevant safety training standards, and can help you plot a safer route home. Users can share their live location with trusted contacts, and the app will notify loved ones when you get home safe.
South Yorkshire is the first area in the UK to be launching the app countywide. It is just one tool of many which police and partners are using to improve safety across our communities, particularly for women and girls.
Venues and other key sites across our districts are encouraged to raise and maintain their safety training and standards in order to meet the criteria to feature on the app as a ‘safe space’, leading to improvements in safety and better experiences for all.
Chief Supt Jamie Henderson, district commander for Sheffield, said: “WalkSafe has been added to a long list of measures we already have in place to help make our streets safer for everyone, in particular women and girls who continue to suffer micro aggressions and acts of violence while they are simply trying to get on with their daily lives. Alongside these tools, we and our partners continue to take action against those responsible for making people feel unsafe.
“The timing of this launch is ideal as we look ahead to Tramlines – one of the biggest dates in the South Yorkshire calendar. Whether you’re planning to be at the festival or be enjoying the pubs, bars and restaurants in our town and city centres across the county, WalkSafe is a really handy app to have downloaded on your phone to help you plan your night in the safest way.”
Emma Kay, founder of WalkSafe, said: “We are thrilled to be launching the WalkSafe + app county wide in partnership with South Yorkshire. We know 63% of women in the UK prefer to visit pubs, bars and restaurants that have safety initiatives in place. Our safety map allows users to see exactly where all the safety trained venues and initiatives are that have been launched across South Yorkshire. WalkSafe also has Journey Sharing and SOS features to use with friends – its FREE and easy to use.”
The WalkSafe app has been funded by South Yorkshire Police. It is supported by the Safer Sheffield Partnership, Safer Rotherham Partnership, Safer Barnsley Partnership, Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership and SYMCA.
Download the WalkSafe app here FREE: Download the app here.
Find out more about how we can all help stop violence against women and girls at nomore-standwithus.com.
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