Co-op has become the first supermarket chain to sign up to the Mayor of London’s Women’s Night Safety Charter which is dedicated to ensuring the capital is a place where all women should be able to feel confident and welcome at night.
With around 190 convenience stores serving communities up until 10 or 11 o’clock at night across London and Greater London, the retailer has put its name to the ‘first of its kind’ charter which is a pan-London initiative developed to encourage councils, businesses, venues and other organisations to prioritise women’s safety, and their perception of safety, after dark.
The Charter sets out seven pledges:
- Nominate a champion in your organisation who actively promotes women’s night safety
- Demonstrate to staff and customers that your organisation takes women’s safety at night seriously, for example through a communications campaign
- Remind customers and staff that London is safe, but tell them what to do if they experience harassment when working, going out or travelling
- Encourage reporting by victims and bystanders as part of your communications campaign
- Train staff to ensure that all women who report are believed
- Train staff to ensure that all reports are recorded and responded to
- Design your public spaces and work places to make them safer for women at night
