Taking action against gender based violence

From Thursday, 25 November, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will be lighting the arched window over the entrance to the Town Hall in Royal Tunbridge Wells orange in support of the United Nation's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign 2021.

The 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and girls is an international campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was originated by activists at the first Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and this year marks its 30th anniversary.

The global theme for this year is Orange the world: End violence against women now! The colour orange represents a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls, and is a unifying theme running through the global activities of the UN campaign.

Updated Community Safety Partnership Plan

Because of increased concern about violence against women and unsafe spaces we have taken the unusual step of amending the agreed Community Safety Partnership Plan to incorporate these issues. Actions being incorporated into the plan are:

Premises with door staff are being asked to ensure searches are carried out with anyone refusing a search being barred from entry and their details passed to CCTV and other venues.
Venues given instructions on how to deal with allegations of spiking and sexual assault.
Agreed funding with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District to purchase and distribute anti-spiking tops for glasses.
Promoting the Ask for Angela scheme (Ask for Angela | Metropolitan Police) through posters in venues
Various operations taking place between now and Christmas with additional police officers out and about providing advice and distributing spikeys (anti-spike drink covers) and personal attack alarms.
Working with the voluntary sector (in particular the Street Pastors) to increase numbers in the town and to provide support and reassurance.
From early 2022 we will be promoting WAVE (Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement) training for licensees and Street Pastors. Piloting the Best Bar None national accreditation scheme, backed by the Home Office. We will also explore how we can help people feel safe in our car parks at night (including the possible installation of CCTV).