PCC funding for female personal safety classes

Funding for free female personal safety classes has been provided by the PCC as part of the continued work to highlight and prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

The three interactive sessions – which are free to participants – will be delivered next month, thanks to a financial grant from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner made via Hertfordshire Community Fund.

The classes – which have been organised by police and will be delivered by UK Puma Defence (opens in new window) – are now a reality thanks to a joint bid submitted by the Neighbourhood Policing Team and Three Rivers District Council.

• The first session, for teenage girls aged between 14 and 17, will be held at William Penn Leisure Centre in Mill End, WD3 8JN, from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday 24 March.
• The second and third sessions are for adult females; the first will be held at Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth, WD3 1RL, from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesday 27 March. The second will be held at William Penn Leisure Centre, WD3 8JN between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday 30 March.

There are 17 spaces available on a first come, first served basis on each of the three courses. You can register your interest for a place on your chosen course using this online form (opens in a new window). The course content focuses on empowerment, situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, self-defence and safety protocols.

David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: “It is great to see that funding from my office is being used to make a real difference to the safety of women in Three Rivers. Violence against women and girls is a real concern of many residents and these classes are just one of the many actions being taken to make them feel safer.”

Sergeant Holly Cooper-Waldron, who leads the Rickmansworth Neighbourhood Policing Team and is the CSP lead for VAWG, said: “According to recent police data, Three Rivers has seen a reduction in reports relating to VAWG in October, November, and December 2023. In addition, it was found to have the lowest number of reports compared to the nine other Community Safety Partnerships in the county.

“While this is positive and reassuring, we know our preventative work remains vital to ensure that potential victims have trust and confidence in their local police in order to report incidents to us. We are pleased to have secured funding for these classes, and we hope this opportunity for women and girls in Three Rivers helps them feel empowered and safe.”

Michelle Wright, Community Safety Manager at Three Rivers District Council, said: “We’re delighted to have formed part of the bid to secure this important funding and ensure that young females and adult women in our district are given the opportunity to equip themselves with skills to help improve their feelings of confidence and safety.

“Of course, this is just one part of the wider work being done by the Community Safety Partnership to address Violence Against Women and Girls, and we’re acutely aware that we have a vital role in identifying potential perpetrators of these crimes, intervening and therefore preventing them from happening.”

The Neighbourhood Policing Team and partners have carried out a huge amount of VAWG-focused work in the past six months:

• Increase in high-visibility night-time reassurance patrols alongside intervention colleagues on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Community engagement at ParkRun events in Leavesden, Oxhey and Rickmansworth, in particular female runners, to share personal safety advice.
• Collaboration with British Transport Police at railway stations, speaking to lone travellers and raising awareness of the Hollie Guard personal safety app (opens in new window).
• Working with local schools to provide reassurance patrols at the start and end of the school day, along with age-appropriate personal safety advice.
• Joint operation with the Community Safety Unit and licensing team carried out at several pubs in the area, to educate the management teams about VAWG, what to look out for, and how to help potential victims. They ensured staff were provided with drink spiking evidence kits, and were aware of the Ask Angela and Ask Clive schemes, as well as the Hollie Guard app. At local PubWatch meetings the team have provided updates of the proactive work being done around VAWG.
• The Walk With A Cop scheme was launched at the end of last year, with events held in all three NPT areas (Rickmansworth, Oxhey and Abbots Langley). It involves the public – particularly women and girls – and professional partners joining local police on a pre-planned, organised walk to highlight any public areas where they feel vulnerable, so that tangible steps can be taken to improve feelings of safety.