Tackling Violence Against Women in the Night-Time Economy: A Collaborative Approach

At this year’s Labour Party Conference, discussions around public safety were at the forefront of many conversations. One of the most pressing topics was how to address violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the night-time economy. A significant fringe event, held at Revolution bar in Liverpool, brought together leading voices from politics, advocacy, and business to explore collaborative solutions for this issue.

The panel, comprising influential figures such as Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister of Violence Against Women and Girls and Victims, Anthea Sully, CEO of White Ribbon UK, Saskia Garner from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Eren Bessim from Safer Business Network CIC, and Mark Balaam, CEO of safeguarding brand imabi, provided a robust discussion on how to prevent violence in night-time spaces such as bars, clubs, and public areas.

With over one hundred attendees, including notable activists like Sharon Gaffka, the event highlighted both the ongoing challenges and promising initiatives aimed at tackling VAWG in these environments.

A Collective Effort

Speaking on the panel, Alex Davies-Jones MP made it clear that tackling violence against women and girls requires a collaborative effort. She said:

"Tackling these issues needs a full system approach. This isn’t just going to be for the Ministry of Justice to fix or the Home Office to fix. It’s for every Whitehall department – education, health, DWP, DCMS – but also businesses, society, every single one of us, if we’re to reach our ambitious target of halving violence against women and girls."

Her comments underscored the need for cross-departmental and societal collaboration. Violence against women is not an isolated issue; it intersects with multiple areas of life, requiring a broad and unified response.

Creating Safer Spaces

Mark Balaam, CEO of imabi, echoed these sentiments and emphasised the importance of partnerships and innovation in tackling violence in the night-time economy:

"Violence against women, particularly in night-time economies, remains a serious concern with no sign of abating. It’s vital we work together to create solutions that foster safer environments. Events such as this help us get to grips with the cause of the problem to try and create viable solutions. We’re committed to developing innovative approaches to prevent harm and protect vulnerable individuals."

Balaam’s comments reflect imabi’s commitment to creating safer public spaces through safeguarding technology. Imabi is at the forefront of providing real-time support solutions, allowing businesses and communities to actively protect vulnerable individuals in environments that are often seen as high-risk for women.

Addressing Root Causes

Another key voice in the conversation, Saskia Garner from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, spoke about the deeper cultural issues that contribute to violence against women:

"The root causes of violence against women and girls lies in misogyny and the normalisation of harmful behaviours towards women. That happens online and in person, so it’s absolutely vital we hold online platforms to account for perpetrators carrying out those behaviours online."

Garner’s comments highlighted the importance of addressing both the online and offline environments where harmful behaviours are normalised. Combating violence against women in the night-time economy requires more than just action in physical spaces—it demands accountability and regulation in digital spaces as well.

Moving Forward

The event in Liverpool made one thing clear: coordinated action between government, businesses, and communities is essential to making night-time spaces safer for women. Safeguarding solutions like imabi can play a critical role in offering practical, real-time support that protects individuals and fosters safer environments.

As imabi continues its work, partnerships with organisations like White Ribbon UK and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust will remain a cornerstone of its efforts to combat violence and create safe, inclusive spaces for women.

For more information on imabi and how it’s helping create safer environments through safeguarding solutions, visit www.imabi.com.

To learn more about White Ribbon UK, visit: www.whiteribbon.org.uk.

Together, we can make our night-time economy—and all areas of life—safer for women and girls.