The Safer City Partnership & Our Safer City


Working together to prevent violence against women and girls


T


he Safer City Partnership is putting collaboration at the heart of its mission to prevent violence against women and girls, with a strong emphasis on partnership with Our Safer City.


Making City workers and workplaces safer is a vital part of the overall approach to public safety and preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the Square Mile. The Safer City Partnership Board recently approved its Community Safety Strategy for 2025–2029, highlighting VAWG as one of four main strategic priorities.


A key element of the strategy is effective and accountable partnerships. The Safer City Partnership is working closely with the City of London Police, Our Safer City, and Business Improvement District (BID) colleagues to implement targeted, evidence – and intelligence-led actions.


This approach focuses efforts on improving the safety of women and girls who live or work in, or visit, the City, supported by prevention-focused interventions, including campaigns to target unwanted behaviour and initiatives to support victims in reporting crimes.


The City of London Corporation became a Beacon member of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) in November 2024. This membership aligns


with corporate objectives to support diverse, engaged communities and a vibrant economic environment. The Corporation updates its own employee policies, embedding best practices on domestic abuse and providing training aligned with EIDA recommendations.


It also encourages and supports City businesses to adopt similar policies, promoting robust mechanisms through business concierge services to identify risks of victimisation, particularly domestic and sexual abuse.


In collaboration with Our Safer City and other partners, the Corporation supports new initiatives, including the development of e-learning tools for small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) on creating effective domestic abuse responses. Public awareness campaigns such as Safe Havens, Taxi Marshalling, and the “Don’t Cross the Line” anti-misogyny initiative are promoted widely via external web pages, social media, and business communications.


Each year, during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), coordinated events and training are held to engage and inform workers, professionals, and residents.


This year’s focus includes improving communication and community engagement on VAWG across the City, uniting public and private organisations for cohesive awareness efforts through quarterly delivery groups and task forces.


Further initiatives supported by the Partnership and Our Safer City encourage:


• Adoption of domestic abuse policies within workplaces through EIDA guidance


• Becoming designated Safe Havens


• Staff training programmes including WAVE, Ask for Angela, and Bystander Intervention


• Sharing related campaign materials promoting acceptable behaviours and other initiatives


Our Safer City plays a fundamental role as a partner in these efforts. Their approach includes high-profile awareness campaigns, training, and practical safety initiatives such as Safe Havens and Taxi Marshalling, providing a safer environment for all who live, work, and socialise in the City.


Together, the Safer City Partnership and Our Safer City exemplify an integrated, multi-agency approach – combining strategy, training, awareness, support, and enforcement – to tackling VAWG and ensuring the Square Mile remains one of the safest business districts in the world.


The posters below are part of a joint awareness campaign for the festive season being shown on digital screens across the City.


29 © CITY SECURITY MAGAZINE – WINTER 2025 www.citysecuritymagazine.com


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