Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

• In the UK, 1373 women were killed by men in the 10 years to 2022, which is around one killing every three days. You can find out details about this in the 2022 Femicide Cencus. 
• In the year ending March 2020 an estimated 4.9 million women had been victims of sexual assault in their lifetimes
• Seven out of 10 women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public
• One in four women experience domestic abuse during their lifetime
• In the past 10 years out of all killings, more than nine in 10 killers were men.
• Over the last year, approximately one in 30 women would have been raped or sexually assaulted in the UK. 

We work with partner agencies across the City of London to raise awareness of domestic abuse.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, think you may be hurting someone or are worried about someone that may be hurt please visit our Domestic Abuse Support page.

DONTCROSSTHELINE is a campaign targeting sexual harassment and misogynistic behaviours on nights out.

The campaign was launched during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2023 in bars, pubs and nightclubs in partnership with Hackney and Tower Hamlets Council.

This was in response to reports from young people and night-time economy users sharing that there had been a rise in misogynistic behaviours since the Covid-19 pandemic.

It uses stark, perpetrator targeted messaging that lists the types of behaviours that are not tolerated whilst also supporting victims and bystanders to report these crimes.

At the Corporation, we aim to send a clear message to perpetrators of sexual offences that behaviours such as unwanted groping, grabbing and harassment are a crime and will not be tolerated.

If you are a victim of crime or have witnessed these behaviours, help can be found at Get Support – #DONTCROSSTHELINE

Visit our campaign webpage for more information. 

Safe Havens are a UK network of businesses and other organisations who help any member of the public feel safe from harassment, by supporting their onward journey.

Find out more and see the list of Safe Havens by visiting our Safe Havens web page.

Ask for Angela is the national scheme that helps anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need for a safe onward journey.

Venues that display the Ask for Angela poster have trained staff that understand the person asking needs help and support and will be able to respond in an appropriate, discreet way. Simply approach a member of staff and ask, “is Angela here?” and staff will help you get to a safe space, and contact security or the police depending on the situation reported.

Participating venues

Many pubs, bars and restaurants across the City of London are part of this scheme. When you are out in the City, look for the Ask for Angela posters or ask the venue staff if you’re unsure. 

Getting home safely after a night out is a priority. To support this, taxi marshalling is available at Liverpool Street station during peak festive periods. Licensed taxi marshals will be on hand to help you find a safe, legitimate taxi or guide you to nearby public transport options.

What you need to know

• Available Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 2am.
• Look for marshals wearing high-visibility jackets.
• Avoid unlicensed vehicles - always use black cabs or pre-booked private hire services.

Tuesday 25 November marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence, a global campaign calling for the prevention and elimination of Violence against All Women and Girls which takes place every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day

Violence against women and girls affects one in three women. It is a global human rights emergency that must stop. Every year, the UN Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s is “#NoExcuse for online abuse” Because there is no excuse. Ever.

As part of the UN’s worldwide campaign, the City of London Corporation has coordinated annual events in November and December, and shared information with residents, workers and partner agencies to help end violence against women and girls.

To mark the start of this campaign, the City of London Corporation have coordinated a number of awareness raising webinars and training sessions available throughout the 16 days which can be accessed in the events guide below.

The City of London Corporation are Beacon members of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) Home - EIDA

As an EIDA Beacon member the City Corporation will:

• Work closely with EIDA to enhance its internal domestic abuse policies and procedures and improve employee access to information and support services
• Increase awareness and education among the Corporation’s employees of how to identify and tackle domestic abuse
• Encourage businesses and employers in the Square Mile to take more action on domestic abuse
• Provide a financial contribution to support EIDA’s wider work

Domestic abuse affects 1 in 4 employees across the UK, meaning that virtually every workplace will employ both victim-survivors and perpetrators. Domestic abuse is a business issue: the cost to businesses in England alone of lost output caused by domestic abuse is estimated at £17 billion per year. For someone experiencing domestic abuse, work may be their only safe place, and employers are uniquely positioned to raise awareness and support their employees.

The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) is a free-to-join membership organisation supporting employers to take effective action on domestic abuse. EIDA has over 2000 employer members, collectively employing more than 25% of the UK’s workforce. EIDA’s mission is to equip employers to support their employees affected by domestic abuse and to share best practice with other employers. They endeavour to bring about constructive change, leading to a society where survivors thrive and domestic abuse is not tolerated.

EIDA membership is free and available to UK employers of all sizes and across all sectors. Membership provides access to a host of practical resources, events, and networks. You can join here. 

The City of London Corporation have also funded an e-learning module (E-learning module for SMEs - EIDA) designed specifically to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build an effective workplace response to domestic abuse. It is available to every organisation in the UK, whether they are a member of EIDA or not. We also warmly encourage larger employers to share it with SMEs in their community or supply chain who may benefit.

By completing the e-learning, SMEs will:

• Understand how to Recognise, Respond and Refer safely and appropriately
• Learn their legal and ethical responsibilities as an employer
• Follow a clear, structured approach to building your domestic abuse response
• Learn how to raise awareness and embed their approach into daily practice
• Feel confident that they are taking meaningful, effective action

The City of London Police, in partnership with the Eastern City and Aldgate Connect Business Improvement Districts, has launched the City Safe Bus. The City Safe Bus will be situated next to the taxi rank outside of Liverpool Street Station.

The City Safe Bus forms part of the City of London Police’s fleet, and staff attached will:

• Provide support for vulnerable individuals during the night-time economy
• Through early intervention reduce demand on emergency services
• Offer public reassurance, safeguarding and welfare
• Maintain a calm, safe, and welcoming environment for all

The mobile welfare hub will operate throughout the year on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and be staffed by two uniformed City of London Police Officers and one trained medic. It will also be used to support major public events in the City, such as the Lord Mayor’s Show, New Year’s Eve and the London Marathon.

If you’re lost or can’t get home, require medical attention, are out of charge on your phone but need to contact a friend, or simply need somebody to talk to then please do go down to the City Safe Bus for help.