Spray-painted ‘safety route’ suffers backlash

A council initiative to help keep vulnerable people safe as they walked home after a night out has been met with anger.

In July 2024, North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) marked signs on streets with spray paint that showed ways to walk home in Corby’s Old Village.

But Gulshen Bano, CEO of Strike Back Self Defence for Women (SBSD), said she did not understand how it would keep women and girls safe.

NNC has said it was part of wider activity around its county-wide Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse Strategy.

“As we know violence against women and girls is at epidemic levels across the UK,” the SBSD CEO told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“Literally stencilling something on the floor and telling women this path is the right way to go – what is that?”

“Could you have made this anymore absurd? If this is the route that you are wanting women to take home from a night out, put that money into community safety officers, not QR codes.

“I’m actually really angry for the women in that area. They’re giving them a false sense of security.

“We should be able to walk anywhere we want.”

She said the council should start running free self-defence workshops for women.

“This isn’t just a UK or a West Midlands or a Northamptonshire problem – this is a global problem.

“Women don’t feel safe. They want to feel safe and we’re at the point where we have to take it into our own hands.”

Jason Smithers, leader of NNC, said: “We don’t believe we should be in a situation that puts the onus on those who have been or who are fearful of being assaulted, harassed or attacked to avoid certain roads.

“But sadly, we’re living in a society with severe systemic issues.”

Mr Smithers, a Conservative councillor, added: “One of our six key commitments to all of our residents is to work towards a safe and thriving place.

“Until inherent societal problems are addressed, we need to work towards ways to help protect people.

“Our hope is this initiative may lead to safer spaces for our communities.”