Women’s safety should be at heart of plans to reopen London’s night-time economy, says Sadiq Khan

Mayor challenged by Tory rival over ‘involvement’ in policing of Sarah Everard vigil
Flowers left in Clapham Common in memory of Sarah Everard
PA Wire

Women’s safety should be at the heart of plans to re-open the night-time economy, Sadiq Khan told businesses today.

The Mayor urged more firms to sign up to a “night-time safety charter” as he published a 234-page strategy advising councils how best to attract visitors to town centres and cultural and entertainment venues at night.

The charter was first launched in 2018 and has about 400 signatories but Mr Khan said the death of Sarah Everard had brought into “sharp focus” the need to improve the safety of women and girls.

It includes advice on better training of staff, encouraging the reporting of harassment and ensuring public spaces are safe.

The new strategy encourages the use of “timed” pedestrianised streets – banning vehicles after certain times – and thinking about the use of rooftops, green spaces and bringing vacant premises back into use.

Green Lanes in Haringey is said to be a role model for showing how better lighting can transform an “unwelcoming space”.

Mr Khan said the charter would help venues and councils to take “simple but important, steps” to help women and girls feel safer after dark.

Sadiq Khan was challened by Shaun Bailey at Mayor’s Question Time
Daniel Hambury/AdrianLourie

A minute’s silence for Ms Everard was held at City Hall at the start of the final Mayor’s Question Time of the 2016-21 mayoral term today.

Mr Khan said there had been an “outpouring of grief and anger” following her death and the “daily reality of male violence against women and girls”.

He said he was committed to working with Reclaim The Streets and other organisations representing London women to improve safety in the capital.

“I’m sure I speak for all Londoners when I say Sarah’s family are in our thoughts,” he said.

But he was challenged by Tory assembly member Shaun Bailey, with whom he will contest the May 6 mayoral election, about the police handling of the vigil for Ms Everard.

Mr Bailey asked whether the Mayor’s office had any advance communication with the Met about how it would be policed.

Mr Khan said: “We didn’t interfere with operational measures in relation to the vigil. That would be inappropriate.

“As far as my interaction with the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner was concerned, I spoke to both of them on Saturday evening.”

Mr Khan said the Met had told London leaders last Thursday that the vigil would be policed “sensitively”.

Asked by Mr Bailey whether the police had gone back on this commitment, Mr Khan said the organisers of the vigil had not sought to risk breaking the law.

“One of the things that I have done as a consequence of my unhappiness with the way the vigil was policed... was to ask two independent watchdogs, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Independent Office for Police Conduct, to look into the issues arising from both the days leading up to the vigil and the policing of the vigil.”

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