Wandsworth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Wandsworth park staff receive bystander training to tackle harassment, part of a borough-wide initiative to improve safety for women and girls in public spaces.
Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
“The idea is simple: we want more people to feel confident being active bystanders and feeling able to help without putting themselves at risk.
This training is vital because everyone deserves to feel safe in our parks. It’s a small action that can make a big difference.”
Employees that work directly for Wandsworth Council are already participating. Our Krinkels and Enable partners will also provide the training to their employees, who are frequently on the ground in our common areas, parks, and open spaces.
The training is available to everyone, not only council or park employees, and is being implemented nationwide through the Green Flag Award network.
According to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which aims to lessen harassment and violence, many people wish to assist but are unsure of how to do so securely.
Whether you want to divert attention, provide support, or assist someone in reporting what happened, this course equips you with useful methods to intervene.
Locals can visit the Suzy Lamplugh website to learn more or enroll in the training.
In addition to providing free bystander training, Wandsworth Council has quadrupled its expenditure in combating violence against women and girls. Individuals, neighborhood organizations, and community groups can all benefit from the training.
What are the key safety and training measures included in Wandsworth?
Parks Police officers and other council employees are trained in first aid, conflict resolution, personal safety, and legal enforcement procedures. This gives them the tools they need to handle crises and keep parks and open areas secure.
In order to make parks a safer place for women and girls, free bystander training is provided to enable community members to safely and successfully act when they encounter harassment or assault.
In order to prevent harassment and enhance safety, the Parks Police monitor parks and open areas throughout the year, enforcing bylaws and dealing with antisocial behavior.
In order to guarantee prompt response and continuous monitoring, the council promotes the reporting of anti-social behavior and situations, including those that impact women and girls.
