Met celebrate International Women’s Day with successful London wide Walk & Talk.

Yesterday 8 March, International Women’s Day was celebrated by the Met with a London wide Walk & Talk. Officers right across the capital met hundreds of women who joined them in a Walk & Talk with female officers to share their safety concerns.

Officers also took to our high streets to chat with women regarding any of their concerns on safety, handing out free alarms and other safety tools. Proactive engagement was held across the capital to highlight the Met’s campaign to tackle violence against women and girls.

Walk & Talk was developed by Brixton Town Centre Inspector Becky Perkins who after a chat with her BCU Commander came up with the idea to invite women to go on a walk and talk with female officers in particular to share any safety concerns or worries they may have. The campaign has so far been very successful and has helped the Met establish more positive links with communities.

Acting Inspector Becky Perkins told the Havering Daily: “The idea came after speaking to our Commander and especially during the winter months many women feel unsafe about their journey to and from work in certain areas. I thought going out with a female officer would give women the opportunity to share their worries with us about areas they feel unsafe in.

“It is also really important that we actively listen and hear people’s concerns and from there we can focus resources on those certain areas. Communication is hugely important and we really want to make sure we listen to all our communities.

“It is grassroots policing, actively listening and interacting with women and our communities right across London and acting on the information they give us. This will help us build trust and confidence with communities and show them that we are listening.

“I know officers are really keen to be doing these walks and have been asking me to participate in many more.It is very rewarding for us too to show people that we are not only listening but also being transparent.”

The Walk & Talk scheme has proven to be very successful as many women have shared their safety concerns with officers about zones they do not feel safe in and in return the Met has been quick to act on the information provided to them to improve those areas.

Yesterday in East Area, female officers right across the three boroughs joined in many Walk & Talks with women from all the different communities.