On November 25th, Norfolk police launched ‘Project Vigilant’ – an initiative aimed at detecting and disrupting violence against women and girls within the county.
Piloting on White Ribbon Day – an annual international day that raises awareness about preventing gender-based violence – the night-time scheme is set to take place in the lead-up to Christmas.
Patrol officers are set to be both uniformed and non-uniformed. Specific training for the initiative’s recruits is currently underway, with a number of officers already fully trained for their new protective roles.
The training focuses on the ability to spot patterns of predatory behaviour within night-time economy areas, such as catcalling and stalking around popular bars and clubs.
The patrols will not be announced ahead of time so as not to alert perpetrators. Any intervening action is assured to be undertaken by uniformed officers who – according to the project’s operational manager, Sergeant Gary Owen: “may then pursue positive responses, such as engaging in conversation, issuing banning orders, or making immediate arrests.”
Most traditional campaigns and initiatives in the UK aimed at preventing gender-based violence are largely victim-based, emphasising the responsibility of victims to stay safe, a strategy that has received much criticism for having shameful or humiliating undertones. Especially those carried out by a police force that has been the face of on-and-off controversy in recent years; particularly regarding its treatment of women.
Project Vigilant, however, is a perpetrator-focused initiative:
Chief Inspector Edward Brown said, “We are piloting the project which will place the focus on those committing offences in the night-time economy against women and girls.”
“As party season means more people want to go out and enjoy a night out in Norwich, we want to call out inappropriate behaviours which lead to women feeling unsafe.”
The scheme, though centred around police action, is not limited to the trained patrol officers. It also intends to create a wider population of ‘active bystanders’- who are encouraged to speak up and report harassment against women and girls on the night-time streets of Norwich themselves.
As Chief Inspector Brown said: “We would also urge staff at venues and the public to report cases of harassment to police.”
The scheme has received positive attention, and the police have been commended for their efforts, with the Labour Deputy leader of Broadland District Council, Natasha Harpley saying, “I’m pleased that there is positive action being taken.”
However, questions about the initiative’s potential risks have also been raised. For example, the possibility of people impersonating non-uniformed officers and the doubt that officers in normal clothes are authoritative enough to deter such frequent and sensitive crimes effectively.
Time will tell whether the scheme will begin to address some incidences within the city effectively and whether this could mark the beginning of a more positive new era of policing the streets of Norwich in support of women.
Image Credit: WikimediaCommons
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