Safer Steps: MEA and PSNI link up for female personal safety walk

Thursday 20 November 2025

The event, hosted by MEA’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) in collaboration with Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team and the PSNI, will aim to create a safe space for women to focus on issues relating to all aspects of personal safety.

The walk, which will depart from and return back to Sandy Bay Pavilion in Larne, will be held on Thursday 4 December 2025, from 7.30pm to 9pm.

As well as the opportunity to meet up and walk with other women, tea, coffee and festive treats will be provided afterwards to warm up, while safety advice will be shared and any questions answered in a relaxed and informal session with Local Neighbourhood PSNI Officer Julie McKeown.

Mid and East Antrim PCSP chair, Councillor Lauren Gray, said: “MEA PCSP is committed to ensuring that the voices of local people are heard on policing and community safety issues.

“We hope women in the Borough will take the opportunity to come along and avail of the personal safety advice on offer, in a friendly and informal setting.

“Engaging with women in this way recognises that, while broader societal change is needed to tackle gender-based violence, whether it manifests as harassment in public spaces, domestic or sexual abuse or coercive control, we can help to empower women by hearing their concerns and offering practical support and guidance.”

The Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team recognises the importance of women and girls accessing and enjoying blue and green spaces, from beaches to parks, safely.

MEA PCSP is committed to improving community safety, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and building community trust and engagement with police. It also provides a support programme for male and female victims of domestic-abuse, including age-appropriate support for children who have been affected.

The Safer Steps event will come during the 16 Days of Action against Domestic Violence, which is an annual international campaign.

It runs this year from 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - until 10 December – Human Rights Day.

PSNI Inspector Colin Ash said: “The Safer Steps event, which falls during the national 16 Days of Action campaign, is an opportunity for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to build on our relationships and continue to have important conversations with our partners and the community we serve about what we are doing to take action.

“It is crucial that we strengthen partnerships and maximise opportunities to hear from, and listen to, people in our community to better understand their views on what more needs to be done as a society to create an environment in which they can feel and be safe.

“We want everyone to have confidence in police and know that we are working on their behalf, collectively with partners, to make a real and lasting difference to change attitudes and behaviours, and create safer communities.”

The Safer Steps walk is free, but registration is required via the Eventbrite website.

Once registered, you will receive final information in advance of the walk.

For anyone affected by issues relating to personal safety, help and support is available from the PSNI, while Women’s Aid is the lead voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland providing services for women and children affected by domestic abuse, and MAP NI – Men’s Advisory Project – offers support to men experiencing domestic abuse.

Onus NI provides specialist training to businesses, organisations, churches, schools or community groups that would like to provide a safe space to victims of domestic abuse.

White Ribbon NI is the local branch of a global campaign to end male violence against women, which encourages groups and individuals to sign the White Ribbon Charter and make the pledge to never condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.