Why a focus on women's safety? Research shows the experience of fear is not gender neutral. Women report feeling more afraid of crime in public places than do men. Where both men and women report feeling a fear of crime, it is usually of different types of crimes. For example, in a recent report of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Strategic Plan, the following was noted: Many of the young men the Division spoke to were at a loss to suggest crimes of which they were fearful.... Young women unanimously nominated sexual assault as the crime they most feared.[1] It is now widely recognised that fear of crime affects our lives and experience of public places. Not only do women experience much higher levels of fear of crime than men, but the crime they fear most - sexual assault - is far more terrifying than robbery, which is the crime most often feared by men.[2] Until women's fear of crime in public places is acknowledged, we won't have a complete understanding of the problems that community safety strategies need to address. Without an understanding of women's fear of crime and violence against women, we risk developing strategies that will be inadequate and ineffective. The aims of the Safe Women Project The Safe Women Project aims to: reduce women's fear of harassment and attack in the streets and other public places; and increase women's safety when using public places. The principles The Safe Women Project has developed four important guiding principles which underpin its work. A livable community is one where all members of the community feel safe. Fear of crime and actual crime are important aspects of public health and community safety. Many strategies which reduce fear will also remove 'opportunities' for crime. A community that is safe for women is safe for everyone. Note: for further discussion about removing the 'opportunity' for crime, see section 2.. The Safe Women Project's approach to improving women's safety The Safe Women Project has developed a framework to reduce women's fear and improve their safety in public places. The Safe Women Project believes that effective safety strategies will need to: Ask women to identify the problems. Women are the best source of information about their safety concerns. An effective strategy will provide a forum for women to express their concerns about safety and to identify public places where they feel unsafe and safe. Identify the improvements needed in the urban environment to address these problems. An effective strategy will need to develop a public response. If women can identify the factors in the environment which contribute to their fear, then these can be removed or improved. Be locally developed and locally driven. Be developed by collaborative partnerships which involve women and the agencies which control and regulate the local urban environment - local councils, police, community organisations, transport authorities and businesses. Taking women's safety beyond Liverpool The Safe Women Project believes that women's safety in public places is an issue in most areas. Since its inception, the Project has gathered and produced a wealth of information about women's safety in public places. The Project believes that continuing to share this information and experience will help women to participate in community safety activities everywhere, and ensure that women's concerns are heard and responded to. To facilitate this process, we have developed this kit. About this kit _________________________________________________________ The Plan It Safe kit is a comprehensive resource for exploring and improving women's safety in public places. It includes written information and resources, a video titled Ask Any Woman and a Women's Safety Audit Guide. The kit documents the experiences and knowledge gathered by the Safe Women Project. The information in the kit starts with women talking about safety in public places. It explores and acknowledges women's fear of crime as an important aspect of community safety. It recommends working in partnership with local councils and agencies to develop solutions. It contains practical strategies about how to do this. The Ask Any Woman video examines women's experiences of using public places. It highlights the ways in which fear of crime and experiences of harassment and attack can impact on women's participation in community life. It also discusses some of the consequences for women when public places are poorly planned or designed and thus unsafe. The Women's Safety Audit Guide is a step by step approach to helping communities identify places which feel, or are, unsafe for women. This process also considers the factors which may make these places unsafe. It includes a safety audit checklist. A safety audit is a first step in the action of making communities safer. The Guide makes this step easy and has been successfully used all over the world. Who is the kit for? This kit is for anyone who is interested in improving women's safety in public places, whether they are town planners, police officers, community workers or residents. The content This kit is based on the aims, principles and approach which have been developed by the Safe Women Project. The content is informed by the following activities carried out by the Project. Community consultation with women via a phone-in, safety audits and on-going contact and liaison. Review of research and the results of women and safety initiatives both in Australia and overseas. Hands-on experience of working with local government, police, other government agencies and community groups to improve safety. Hands-on experience of lobbying for change. In developing its approach and philosophy to women's safety, the Safe Women Project has also reviewed, and sometimes incorporated, principles from related issues and debates. Important social issues which have informed the approach and content include: work being done to reduce violence against women and improve women's safety in both public and private situations; social justice principles of access, equity and participation; the developing area of community crime prevention; the developing area of creating livable, healthy cities; and current debates on law and order. The Safe Women Project recognises that any complete strategy toward creating safer communities will also need to address violence against women in the home. However, violence against women in the home is not the focus of this kit. How to use this kit Acting locally The Safe Women Project believes a locally driven response is the most effective way to change the urban environment and improve women's safety. The Project believes that women hold a great deal of important local knowledge about safety, and that strategies to reduce fear and improve safety are best developed in partnership with local councils and other stakeholders. This kit is designed to help you explore and work in your area. It can help you to work with women in your community, and to work with your local council in effecting necessary change. It includes the following information: Places where women report feeling safe and unsafe. An exploration of women's fear and strategies on how to reduce it. Information which will help you to get to know your partners in safety. Practical steps on setting up a forum to reduce women's fear and improve safety. Practical strategies and resources to help make public places safer. Practical steps on encouraging your local council to respond by gathering community support and lobbying. You could use the resources in the kit (ie the information, the video and the Guide) together or separately depending on your circumstances and need. You can also use the kit in a number of ways. For example, you can use it to: Inform yourself so you can raise the issue of women's safety in public forums such as Community Safety Committees, precinct committees or during local elections. Inform yourself and others so you can start your own Safe Women group. Join community safety initiatives being run by local councils and police to make sure women's concerns are raised and addressed. inform other community members, raise the issue, gather community support and make enough noise so your council won't be able to ignore you. A safe place to start _________________________________________________________ Women's safety in public places is an emerging issue. The work of reducing women's fear and promoting safety in public places is just beginning. We recommend building on community safety initiatives which are currently being developed and implemented in many councils and within the NSW Police Service. We recommend the whole community takes responsibility for solutions developed through partnerships. We recommend local councils take the lead in creating safer communities. How easy it is for you to do safety work will depend on what is already happening in your area. In some councils, community safety is already an issue, and structures are already in place which you can tap into. In others, community safety has not yet been discussed. As you go along, you will find that some strategies are more effective than others. Opportunities and problems may arise in places you did not expect. There may be some setbacks along the way and much of your advocacy work may be trial and error. You will almost certainly experience some frustration as well as some wins and some joys. Perseverance and flexibility will be the key. We provide this information as a guide, and expect that your experience will add a great deal to its usefulness. Remember - everyone is learning a new way to think about the urban environment and that this will take time. It may also take time for people to fully understand the opportunities and benefits provided by a community that is safe for everyone. [ 

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| Introduction | Women Talking about Safety In Public Places | Community Safety and Women's Fear Of Crime | Partners In Community Safety | A Community Safety Forum | From Wasteland To Heartland | Raising The Issue Of Women's Safety In Your Community | Contacts |