The safety of all women and girls remains a priority for Hammersmith & Fulham Council as we continue to create a safe and equal place for everyone who lives, works, visits and studies in the borough.
We take a zero-tolerance approach against all forms of gender-based harassment and abuse, wherever it occurs. That's why we've launched an ambitious programme of initiatives to understand the experiences of all women and girls in H&F and take urgent steps to ensure they feel safe in the borough.
Street harassment public spaces protection order (PSPO)
New restrictions against street harassment now apply across all public spaces in Hammersmith & Fulham. Following feedback from residents, H&F Council have introduced a street harassment public spaces protection order (PSPO).
The new PSPO will help to reduce incidents of antisocial behaviour and improve the safety for all those who work, live or visit the borough, by enabling officers to enforce against perpetrators of harassment. Find out more, visit street harrassment PSPO.
Ensuring women's safety in H&F
H&F Council's actions to address women's safety in the borough include:
- developing a women's night safety charter, setting out H&F's commitment and action to address the safety of women and girls in public spaces
- partnering with the Hammersmith Business Improvement District to deliver a programme of women's safety training to businesses in the borough
- partnering with Women and Girls Network to deliver prevention and education programmes for young people
- creating women's safety champions within the Law Enforcement Team
- becoming a UK Says No More partner
- upgrading H&F's street scape, including new lighting initiatives
- promoting Ask for Angela to support women's safety in bars, clubs and other licenced venues
- launching H&F's new five-year Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in March 2022.
H&F is also the only London borough to successfully receive Home Office Safety of Women at Night Funding to deliver projects to promote the safety of women at night. In addition to the initiatives mentioned above, the fund will also enable us to:
- start a programme for young women to become leaders of change in their community
- provide additional support to women involved in homelessness
- conduct women's safety surveys and audits to learn where the real problems lie and provide solutions
- continue night surgeries in collaboration with the Mayor of London.
Meet our Women's Safety Champions
New Women's Safety Champions have been appointed in H&F's Law Enforcement Team to actively promote women's safety in the borough.
Women's safety is everyone's business, you can speak to any of the council's Law Enforcement Team for support or further information. Learn about H&F's Law Enforcement Team.
How do I report sexual harassment to the council?
Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. This can take many different forms such as catcalling or persistent questioning, some of which may not obviously be sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can affect anyone, not just women and girls.
In an emergency always call 999.
You can report incidents to H&F Council's Community Safety Team by:
- Email: Report-Harassment@lbhf.gov.uk
- Call: 020 8753 1100 (select option 3 – not a dedicated harassment line)
Support
Help and support on matters relating to women's safety is available.
- Police: To report a crime, contact the police on 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency) or via the online reporting tool. You can also anonymously share information on public places where you have felt or feel unsafe through the Street Safe Pilot.
- Angelou Partnership: The Angelou Partnership can provide support to women and girls aged 13+ affected by domestic or sexual violence and abuse – 0208 741 7008. This includes specialist support for BAME, LGBT and young victim/survivors.
- Stay Safe East: Stay Safe East provides support services to disabled people from diverse communities in London who are victims/survivors of domestic or sexual violence, hate crime, harassment and other forms of abuse – 07865 340 122.
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: For support and information related to stalking, lone-working and personal contact the Suzy Lamplugh Trust – 0808 802 0300.
- Survivor's Trust: The Survivor's Trust provides support to individuals affected by sexual violence and abuse – 08088 010818
- Victim Support: Victim Support provides assistance to victims of crime – 08 08 16 89 111
Learn about H&F's response to Violence Against Women and Girls.