{SITE-NAME} Logo
Message Type Icon Neighbourhood Watch

Expansion of Sussex Safe Space Scheme

The Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner are currently looking to raise awareness and encourage more businesses and organisations across Sussex to join the Safe Space Scheme, an initiative that offers an accessible safe space for individuals who may feel unsafe, threatened, or at risk of harm. Launched in 2021, the scheme was created to build a network of trusted locations across the county where people can go if they feel unsafe. There are currently nearly 200 approved Safe Space locations across Sussex.  

The OPCC are actively working to expand the scheme to include a wider range of businesses and other publicly accessible venues. They would greatly value your support in raising awareness of initiative and in helping to identify suitable locations, including local businesses, that may be approved as designated safe spaces.  

While they welcome applications from all suitable spaces, they are particularly focusing on the following:

  • Late-night Safe Spaces that support the night-time economy to assist individuals who may be at risk during evening hours. Given that many businesses and existing safe spaces are not open during the evening or night-time economy, there is a requirement to identify additional safe spaces for individuals to go if they are feeling unsafe whilst out. This could include 24/7 petrol stations, hotels, council buildings/community spaces, religious venues, or other publicly accessible eligible establishments.
  • Spaces that are able assist vulnerable women, LGBTQ+, religious and other protected groups.
  • Target areas where feelings of unsafety were reported, but no safe spaces are currently available (Yapton, Billingshurst, Steyning and Wadhurst/Turners Green). 
  • More Spaces in Hastings, Horsham, Worthing, River Arun and Crawley, where high levels of feeling unsafe have been reported. 
  • Additional spaces to be identified in Eastbourne North, Littlehampton, St Leonards, Manhood, Chichester, Brighton West, Brighton East, Brighton Central and Bognor – these are areas with the highest crime increase.  

    • Further details about the scheme and how to sign up are available in the attached leaflet or via the website: Safe:Space Sussex - Become a Safe Space.

    Please feel free to share this information and the leaflet with your wider networks as appropriate.

    Thank you very much for your time and support.

    Attachments
    Reply to this message
    Share
    Share
    Message Sent By
    Derek Pratt MBE
    (NWN, MSA, Sussex)
    Neighbourhood Alert