Birmingham City Council has rolled out a new initiative aimed at tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) during the night-time hours in the city. Over the past three weeks, additional community officers have been deployed to work across the night-time economy as part of a 'nightwatch' scheme designed to heighten safety.
New Nightwatch Scheme Details
Waqar Ahmed, the council's assistant director of community safety and resilience, explained that more officers have been allocated to work during the night and collaborate with local businesses. He stated that the officers' presence will be integrated with the WalkSafe personal safety app, which has recently launched in Birmingham. The app uses geofencing technology to provide real-time information to users, allowing them to see the location of officers nearby.
How the Nightwatch System Works
Oliver Humpidge, community safety partnership manager at the council, detailed the operational aspects of the nightwatch system. He noted that these officers operate from 9 pm to 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays in key locations such as Broad Street, South Side, and the central Colmore area, particularly around pubs and bars. The officers wear a different colour uniform to distinguish them from daytime staff.
Mr Humpidge further explained that the WalkSafe app will track the six officers on duty during those hours. Members of the public can view the app to see a pin indicating where officers are located at any given time. This feature aims to help individuals in distress, such as those experiencing harassment, to quickly locate an officer for assistance.
Engaging Businesses and Creating Safe Spaces
The council is also working to involve as many businesses as possible in the initiative. The goal is to identify which businesses have safety resources and where safe spaces are available for individuals in Birmingham. Mr Humpidge described the officers' role as providing visible reassurance, first aid, and support to vulnerable people.
He emphasised that the initiative is 'plugging a gap' in efforts to target VAWG, complementing police work. While the police cannot be everywhere at all times, the nightwatch officers offer an additional layer of safety. Although the scheme is only three weeks old and not yet fully staffed, Mr Humpidge reported that positive outcomes are already being observed.
