West Yorkshire Police And The Mayor’s Women’s Safety Unit Have Launched Project Vigilant
The proactive policing initiative, funded by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, is designed to prevent sexual violence by identifying and disrupting concerning behaviour before a crime is committed.
It takes a partnership-led approach to improving safety in public spaces, bringing together police, local authorities, licensed premises, transport providers, businesses and other organisations to together identify specified behaviours, and intervene early to prevent harm.
Project Vigilant forms part of the Force's wider commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG). While anyone can be affected by sexual offending, women and girls are disproportionately impacted. In West Yorkshire over the past 12 months, 80 per cent of victims of sexual assault were women, while 91 per cent of offenders were male.
As part of the initiative, specially trained plain-clothed and uniformed officers are deployed in busy town and city centre locations across West Yorkshire. Working alongside partners, officers are trained to recognise the warning signs that someone may be targeting or harassing others, enabling intervention before an offence takes place.
West Yorkshire Police has delivered training to frontline workers, including bar staff, door supervisors and public transport workers, equipping them with the ability to recognise the warning signs of predatory behaviour. These behaviours can include following individuals, making inappropriate sexual comments, or attempting to isolate someone who may be at risk.
In its first four weeks of deployment, Project Vigilant has resulted in over 30 interventions, helping to disrupt harmful behaviour, safeguard those at risk, and prevent potential crimes from being committed.
West Yorkshire Police Lead for VAWG, Superintendent Phil Coward, said: "Everyone has the right to feel safe when enjoying a night out or travelling through our towns and cities.
Project Vigilant is about preventing harm before it happens. By identifying concerning behaviour early and intervening where necessary, we can help protect potential victims, disrupt offenders and create safer environments for everyone.
The success of this initiative relies on strong partnerships. By working closely with local authorities, venue staff, transport providers and businesses, we can better identify risks, support those who may be vulnerable and take action before offences occur.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin added: “We are committed to ensuring the safety of women and girls here in West Yorkshire.
"Predatory behaviours, negative attitudes, and misogyny will not be tolerated, and by working together, we can make sure it is called out when and where it occurs.
"Everybody deserves an environment where they we can thrive without fear or having to look over their shoulders. This work will provide that added confidence and assurance.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report any behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable or causes concern. Anyone who experiences or witnesses predatory behaviour can speak to a police officer, member of venue staff or security staff, or report concerns at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it/report-suspicious-behaviour
More information about Project Vigilant can be found via;
www.westyorkshire.police.uk/project-vigilant
