Women and girls are to be asked how safe they feel on the streets of Brighton and Hove in a survey in the new year.
It is part of a study into the levels of violence against women and girls and their perceptions.
The study follows a government grant of almost £1 million to councils and the police and crime commissioner in Sussex for “Safer Streets”.
Details emerged at a council meeting last week when Labour councillor Amanda Evans (pictured below) asked about the study.
She also asked whether the council had received any Home Office funding as part of the Safer Streets programme.
Councillor Evans said:
“In the wake of the shocking murder of Sarah Everard and the subsequent focus on the safety of women and girls in public – including a survey showing an extraordinary 97 per cent of women saying they had been subject to harassment or worse – (the council’s Policy and Resources Committee) agreed on (Thursday) 1 July to set aside funds to carry out a study in Brighton and Hove on women’s safety, both actual and perceived.
“The existence of this funding was mentioned in passing in a TECC (Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture) Committee board in September, but not that action was taken.”
Green councillor Steph Powell said that the consultation would start in the new year and would be used as officials worked on a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
She said that Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner had received almost £1 million.
Councillor Powell, who co-chairs the council’s TECC Committee, said:
“A violence against women and girls co-ordinator is being appointed and will work within the neighbourhood policing team to deliver the work.
“The work plan includes healthy relationships session in schools, development of a safe space app and media campaign.
“Funding was also obtained for improved lighting around Old Steine, Pavilion Gardens and the war memorial.”
The police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne led a bid which secured a £300,000 grant from the government’s Safety of Women at Night Fund.
This will help pay for additional policing and taxi marshals at the ranks in East Street and West Street on Friday and Saturday nights.
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