Harrow has welcomed 5 new Safe Havens to the borough - Citizens Advice Harrow, Hillview Family Hub, Buchanan Court Care Home, Crowning Greatness Community Hub and The Moat Café (at Headstone Manor).

#StepInNotAside is London Borough of Harrow’s new bystander intervention campaign, which we have just launched. This is empowering people to take safe, supportive action if they witness public harassment or feel something isn’t right.

This campaign is about keeping everyone safe in our streets, workplaces, schools, and community spaces. It recognises that help doesn’t mean confrontation. Sometimes it means a distraction, asking for support, checking in later, or simply being present.

Step In, Not Aside puts safety first, giving people practical options to respond in ways that reduce harm and avoid escalation.

Every action, no matter how small, helps create a borough where women and girls continue to feel safe and supported.

Visit our Bystander Intervention webpage to learn more and access our free resident bystander e-learning, leaflet and poster packs designed to build confidence, awareness, and safety.

• Special Day of Action themed around supporting women from violence
• 9 organisations join walk for women event offering support
• Women and allies walked through Harrow town centre to raise awareness of women’s safety

There was an incredible show of support for women and girls at today’s Day of Action in Harrow Town Centre. Themed on Women’s safety, more than 60 people took part the walk for women event to show their support and hear about the help available to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

The event was opened by the Mayor of Harrow, and supported by local partners and organisations. Starting at Art Park, and finishing at Lowlands Rec, the event brought the community together for an important cause – to offer support to women, and to end gender-based violence.

Along the route, short talks, advice and support were offered from organisations including Cranstoun, Conversation Café, Resourceful Women’s Network, Caryl Thomas Clinic, RISE, EACH Counselling, NOMAD, LNWH NHS, AWRC, Met Police and MIND. Topics ranged from domestic abuse support, and health services to mental health and wellbeing. Supporters also took home with them safety packs containing torches, alarms and spiking prevention kits to help people feel safe.

Cllr Pritesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety who took part in the walk said:

“Every woman and girl should feel safe in Harrow – be it at home, work, or out in the community. I’m proud to have took part in this walk as an ally, and stand up against Violence Against Women and Girls.

“This was a special event centred around women’s safety and I hope it gave confidence to women and girls in Harrow and let them know they are supported. I’d like to thank everyone and our partners who took part and made this event possible.

“We will continue to work with our partners to in tackling this issue and provide a safe space for women and girls in Harrow.”

The walk follows the success of Haringey Council’s event. Harrow’s support for women and girls goes further. The council’s growing network of ‘Safe Havens’ offers a free, confidential space for those feeling vulnerable, harassed or threatened. Trained staff will offer support including phone charging, Wi-Fi, help with transport or contacting support services and police. Find out more: www.harrow.gov.uk/safehavens

Our Safer Spaces Survey allows people to share their experiences of where they feel safe or unsafe in Harrow. Feedback helps identify problem areas and take action such as improving street lighting or adding CCTV. More information can be found at talk.harrow.gov.uk/harrowsaferspaces

This is the ninth day of action held by the council – one of 30 flagship actions set out in the corporate plan to restore pride in Harrow and help make Harrow cleaner and safer.

Harrow Art Park in Greenhill Way is a thriving creative hub. It's home to artists, makers, and small businesses – and now a Safe Haven, too. Crowning Greatness is the latest community project to join the network of trusted spaces offering temporary refuge to people who feel unsafe or threatened.

Step inside to regroup, make a call, or be signposted to local services - each venue is committed to helping women and girls feel safe and supported across our borough. Look for the Safe Haven sticker and step inside. Find all Safe Haven locations and further information.

The London Borough of Harrow is continuing its ongoing commitment to tackling violence against women and girls by supporting White Ribbon Day. It takes place on Tuesday 25 November and marks the start of the UN’s16 Days of Activism (25 Nov–10 Dec), a global campaign to end violence against women and girls. The council alongside its partners will be raising awareness and to help create change.

We all have a responsibility to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. That’s why we’re asking everyone to use their voice, both online and offline to challenge abuse and promote respect.

What’s Happening in Harrow

• Day of Action: Walk for Women – Wednesday 10 December, 2pm
  Join our community walk from Art Park to show support for survivors and hear from local organisations.
• #StepInNotAside Campaign: Learn how to safely challenge harmful behaviour, including online harassment.
• Training sessions for professionals, community groups and the voluntary sector to help end gender-based violence and promote available support services.

Cllr Pritesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety said:

"Every woman and girl in Harrow should feel safe and be safe in our borough. I’m proud to support White Ribbon Day, raising awareness of violence against women and girls. This campaign calls on everyone—especially men and boys—to take action, promote respect, and help create safer spaces.

“In Harrow, we’re expanding Safe Havens - now with 22 locations across the borough offering a safe place for women feeling threatened. We're also using your feedback to tackle areas where you feel unsafe. We'll continue to look at ways to help make Harrow a safe place to live and work.”

The UN’s global theme is around ending digital violence, highlighting the growing issue of online harassment, abuse and control through technology. Almost 60% of women worldwide have experienced some form of digital abuse, including harassment, threats, and image-based abuse.

How You Can Get Involved

Everyone can play a part in speaking up for change and supporting women and girls. Here’s how you can get involved when online:

• Think before you share. Don’t forward or engage with harmful content or comments.
• Report and block abuse. Stand up for victims — don’t stay silent.
• Be a digital ally. Challenge misogyny, harassment, and bullying when you see it.
• Listen and learn. Hear women’s experiences and believe them.
• Know where to get help. Visit our website for information on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) support services in Harrow.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse please contact Cranstoun’s Domestic Abuse Service on 020 8129 5438 or visit their website for free and confidential support.

When it comes to your safety, we're listening to you and taking steps to make Harrow safe.

After over 3500 visits to the webpage between October 2023 and March 2025, more than 170 of you have told us about areas that need attention in our Survey. We've taken a number of actions including upgrading street lighting, installing more CCTV, increasing patrols, and expanding our network of Safe Havens.

This work forms part of our wider VAWG (violence against women and girls) reduction initiatives - for example: Voicebox prevention work in schools, Domestic Abuse provision, 16 Days of Activism, and more.

Comparing the 3-month period from July to September 2023 (just before the survey launched), to the 3 month period of January to March 2025, public VAWG offences reported to the police fell by 21.5%, reflecting the positive impact of our efforts to improve safety for women and girls.

We’ll keep monitoring feedback from the Survey and encourage residents to continue to share their views. Insights will help shape our updated VAWG and Domestic Abuse Strategy coming next year.

You can read the full report by downloading the 'You Said, We Did' document from the right hand side of the page, or by clicking here: https://talk.harrow.gov.uk/26729/widgets/98587/documents/95239

We’re making Harrow safer and cleaner. During our latest Day of Action in Wealdstone, teams tackled key issues supporting those with drug and alcohol problems, checking housing standards, addressing fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, cracking down on illegal parking and Blue Badge misuse, and engaging residents on violence against women and girls while promoting our Safe Havens.

We also completed checks on new locations pinpointed on the Safer Spaces Survey in Wealdstone, to follow up on your feedback.

These days of action are all about listening to our community and responding to what matters most. Thank you to everyone who stopped to chat, share concerns, or lend support.

Antisocial behaviour, licensing checks, rubbish clearance, environmental enforcement and illegal parking were were just some of the things tackled at our latest day of action. Held in the Town Centre, our Community Safety Team were joined by Harrow Town Centre Business Improvement District, TfL and Harrow Litter Pickers - alongside many council services.

The day of action included focused efforts around women and girls’ safety, such as:

• Completing checks on locations pinpointed on the Safer Spaces Survey, to follow up on residents feedback
• Alongside Conversation Cafe, spoke with members of the public and residents to provide safety advice
• VAWG patrols

It's one of our flagship actions to help restore pride in Harrow and ensure a cleaner and safer borough for residents.

Safe Havens are helping keep Harrow safe. Originally launched to support women and girls, we’ve expanded from 14 to 21 venues across Harrow.

These spaces help anyone feeling scared, harassed or threatened. Whether someone needs to call a taxi, charge their phone, or simply take a moment to feel safe, these spaces are here to help.

They are free, confidential spaces and staffed by trained individuals. Our Safe Havens include voluntary groups, community library, and community hubs ready to offer temporary support.

Cllr Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety, said:

“Every new Safe Haven space is a commitment to making Harrow a safer, and more supportive place for everyone who lives, works and visits our borough.

“By the end of the year, we aim to have 25 safe havens in Harrow – it’s just one of the ways we’re putting our residents’ and their safety first. If you ever find yourself feeling scared or threatened, these safe places will open their doors to you and offer support.”

The initiative, launched in partnership with the Safer Business Network, was developed in response to feedback from our Safer Spaces Survey. It is part of a broader commitment to tackle harassment and improve public safety, especially for women and girls.

Read the full press release here: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/news/article/11435/more-support-for-women-and-girls-with-seven-new-safe-havens