Devon and Cornwall Police launch 'Walk and Talk' campaign to enhance women's safety

In an effort to address and combat violence against women and girls, Devon and Cornwall Police have unveiled an initiative named ‘Walk and Talk’.

The concept is simple: if there's a location where individuals, especially women, feel unsafe, they are encouraged to reach out to the police.

A female officer will then meet them at the concerned location, engaging in a 'walk and talk' session to delve deeper into their concerns. The officer will actively listen, document the issues raised, and collaborate with community partners to address and tackle these concerns collectively.

The campaign launched on February 1, and will mark the commencement of a three-month trial period.

Although similar schemes have seen success in other police forces across the country, this initiative is a novel introduction for Devon and Cornwall.

Women interested in participating in the ‘Walk and Talk’ initiative can apply by emailing their name, address, contact number, and the desired walk location to Walkandtalk@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk.

A female officer from the local area will then get in touch to coordinate the walk, which is expected to take approximately 30 minutes.

The campaign encourages women aged 18 and over, residing or working in specified towns, to engage with female police officers, fostering discussions on women's safety and contributing to positive community change.

The towns included in the ‘Walk and Talk’ campaign are Truro, Falmouth, Plymouth, Barnstaple, Exeter, Exmouth, Torquay, Paignton, and Newton Abbot.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “This project is designed to continually improve our understanding of local issues, so we can all work together to make changes.

“A female police officer will accompany local women as they walk through an area where they have concerns so we have a detailed understanding of how an area makes people really feel and what the reasons for the cause of this feeling are. It could be caused by poor lighting or due to anti-social behaviour, and we then share this information with partners to consider how we can work together to support changes and improvements being made.

“This is an important development as the personal interaction will develop our understanding of issues from the perspective of women and girls.”

Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, welcomed the new personal safety initiative for women across the region, saying: “Ensuring the safety of women and girls in Devon & Cornwall is a top priority of mine, so I wholeheartedly endorse the innovative new Walk & Talk service that’s being trialled in participating towns across the peninsula. All women deserve to feel safe in their communities, but sadly that’s not always been the case - it’s why tackling violence against women and girls is now a national policing priority.

“I’ve heard my neighbouring Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset, Mark Shelford, speak highly of their Walk & Talk scheme, so I look forward to seeing positive results for ours here in Devon & Cornwall.

“I urge local partners to get behind this new initiative and encourage take-up in your pilot areas, particularly amongst vulnerable female groups who may be reluctant to come forward and speak out.”

Each Walk and Talk should last around 30 minutes.