Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

• In the UK, 1373 women were killed by men in the 10 years to 2022, which is around one killing every three days. You can find out details about this in the 2022 Femicide Cencus. 
• In the year ending March 2020 an estimated 4.9 million women had been victims of sexual assault in their lifetimes
• Seven out of 10 women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public
• One in four women experience domestic abuse during their lifetime
• In the past 10 years out of all killings, more than nine in 10 killers were men.
• Over the last year, approximately one in 30 women would have been raped or sexually assaulted in the UK. 

We work with partner agencies across the City of London to raise awareness of domestic abuse.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, think you may be hurting someone or are worried about someone that may be hurt please visit our Domestic Abuse Support page.

DONTCROSSTHELINE is a campaign targeting sexual harassment and misogynistic behaviours on nights out.

The campaign was launched during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2023 in bars, pubs and nightclubs in partnership with Hackney and Tower Hamlets Council.

This was in response to reports from young people and night-time economy users sharing that there had been a rise in misogynistic behaviours since the Covid-19 pandemic.

It uses stark, perpetrator targeted messaging that lists the types of behaviours that are not tolerated whilst also supporting victims and bystanders to report these crimes.

At the Corporation, we aim to send a clear message to perpetrators of sexual offences that behaviours such as unwanted groping, grabbing and harassment are a crime and will not be tolerated.

If you are a victim of crime or have witnessed these behaviours, help can be found at Get Support – #DONTCROSSTHELINE

Visit our campaign webpage for more information. 

Safe Havens are a UK network of businesses and other organisations who help any member of the public feel safe from harassment, by supporting their onward journey.

Find out more and see the list of Safe Havens by visiting our Safe Havens web page.

Ask for Angela is the national scheme that helps anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need for a safe onward journey.

Venues that display the Ask for Angela poster have trained staff that understand the person asking needs help and support and will be able to respond in an appropriate, discreet way. Simply approach a member of staff and ask, “is Angela here?” and staff will help you get to a safe space, and contact security or the police depending on the situation reported.

Participating venues

Many pubs, bars and restaurants across the City of London are part of this scheme. When you are out in the City, look for the Ask for Angela posters or ask the venue staff if you’re unsure. 

Getting home safely after a night out is a priority. To support this, taxi marshalling is available at Liverpool Street station during peak festive periods. Licensed taxi marshals will be on hand to help you find a safe, legitimate taxi or guide you to nearby public transport options.

What you need to know

• Available Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 2am.
• Look for marshals wearing high-visibility jackets.
• Avoid unlicensed vehicles - always use black cabs or pre-booked private hire services.

Tuesday 25 November marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence, a global campaign calling for the prevention and elimination of Violence against All Women and Girls which takes place every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day

Violence against women and girls affects one in three women. It is a global human rights emergency that must stop. Every year, the UN Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s is “#NoExcuse for online abuse” Because there is no excuse. Ever.

As part of the UN’s worldwide campaign, the City of London Corporation has coordinated annual events in November and December, and shared information with residents, workers and partner agencies to help end violence against women and girls.

To mark the start of this campaign, the City of London Corporation have coordinated a number of awareness raising webinars and training sessions available throughout the 16 days which can be accessed in the events guide below.

As part of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the City of London Police and City of London Corporation are running a series of Walk Along events in the City.

Women visiting, working or living in the City of London can walk along with City of London Police Officers and representatives from the City of London Corporation to share their thoughts on safety and how to we can bring about a positive change.

Those who take part in the Walk Along event can share their views and experiences with officers and staff as they walk through any areas they may feel vulnerable in.

We are running the following Walk Along events:

Middlesex St Estate Walk Along

When: 27 November at 5pm

Where:  Artizan Street Library & Community Centre, 1 Artizan Street, London, E1 7AF

Who can join: This Walk Along is aimed at women who live on the Middlesex St Estate.

It's an opportunity for women who live on the Middlesex St residents to walk around the estate with City of London Police Officers and representatives from the City of London Corporation Housing and Community Safety teams, to share concerns about safety.

Operation Reframe Walk Along

When: 27 November at 6.30pm

Where: Meet at the Night Safety Bus at Liverpool Street Station, Liverpool Street London EC2M 7PP

Who can join: this public Walk Along event is open to any women visiting, working or living in the City of London.

It's an opportunity for women visiting, working or living in the City of London to walk along with City of London Police Officers and representatives from City of London Corporation to share concerns about safety.

Golden Lane Estate Walk Along

When: 10 December at 6pm

Where: meet at the Estate Office, Great Arthur House, Golden Lane Estate, London EC1Y 0RD

Who can join: This Walk Along event is aimed at women who live on the Golden Lane Estate.

An opportunity for women who live on the Golden Lane Estate to walk around the estate with City of London Police Officers and representatives from the City of London Corporation Housing and Community Safety teams to share concerns about safety.

The City of London Corporation are Beacon members of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA).

As an EIDA Beacon member the City Corporation will:

• Work closely with EIDA to enhance its internal domestic abuse policies and procedures and improve employee access to information and support services
• Increase awareness and education among the Corporation’s employees of how to identify and tackle domestic abuse
• Encourage businesses and employers in the Square Mile to take more action on domestic abuse
• Provide a financial contribution to support EIDA’s wider work

16 Days of Activism 2025

Domestic abuse is a workplace issue. One in four employees across the UK will be affected by domestic abuse in their lifetime, meaning that virtually every workplace will have both victim-survivors and perpetrators of abuse. For someone experiencing domestic abuse, work may be their only safe place.

EIDA is a free-to-join membership organisation supporting employers to take effective action on domestic abuse. EIDA provides a resource pack of 16 posters for members to use internally throughout the 16 Days of Activism to raise awareness of domestic abuse. By participating, you demonstrate to your employees that your organisation takes domestic abuse seriously, and you also help keep the issue on the agenda. Every opportunity to raise awareness can mean a life saved. Join EIDA for free to access the campaign resources and join over 2000 UK employers that are part of the change.

The City of London Police, in partnership with the Eastern City and Aldgate Connect Business Improvement Districts, has launched the City Safe Bus. The City Safe Bus will be situated next to the taxi rank outside of Liverpool Street Station.

The City Safe Bus forms part of the City of London Police’s fleet, and staff attached will:

• Provide support for vulnerable individuals during the night-time economy
• Through early intervention reduce demand on emergency services
• Offer public reassurance, safeguarding and welfare
• Maintain a calm, safe, and welcoming environment for all

The mobile welfare hub will operate throughout the year on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and be staffed by two uniformed City of London Police Officers and one trained medic. It will also be used to support major public events in the City, such as the Lord Mayor’s Show, New Year’s Eve and the London Marathon.

If you’re lost or can’t get home, require medical attention, are out of charge on your phone but need to contact a friend, or simply need somebody to talk to then please do go down to the City Safe Bus for help.