Avon and Somerset Police to tackle women's unsafe walks home

Women can talk to their local female officers about safety concerns they have

A programme that encourages women to tell police where they feel unsafe in public will be rolled out across venues in Bristol and Somerset.

Avon and Somerset Police is running "Walks and Talks" events to hopefully begin the process of finding solutions.

Women can talk to local female officers about any worries they have about their personal safety in their area.

"People who have taken part have found it really meaningful," organiser Rose Green said.

"It could be walks home from work, or where they run in the evenings," she said.

"Hopefully anything they highlight we should be able to problem-solve," she added.

"It might be with the local authorities, to improve CCTV or street lighting, or it might be we have more targeted patrols in that area."

Events like this have happened before in some areas of Somerset, but it has now become a bigger event with up to 10 places taking part.

Ms Green said it was "important" to put police resources towards improving women's safety.

"We need to encourage the public to feel safe to come and talk to us," she added.

"We absolutely need to be putting resources into resolving that."

The Walk and Talks will take place on 17 April at 18:00 BST in different areas of Yeovil, Taunton, Bristol, Bath and Nailsea.