Current timestamp: 19/07/2025 12:19:43
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal Activity[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-location' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Leave this site

Cookies

We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.

Accept cookies Reject cookies Customise cookies

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

Go to Hampshire Constabulary homepage

  • Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud
    • Spiking
    • Stalking or harassment
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
    • Hate crime
  • Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
  • Back to Apply or register

    • Careers and volunteering
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Compensation for something the police have done
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
    • Request an update
  • Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Feedback about the website
    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
  • Your area
  1. ...
  2. News

Tackling violence against women and girls in Southampton

Main article content

News
Published: 14:15 20/05/2022

2536177-MVAWG-infographic-1.jpg

How have officers have been tackling violence against women and girls at night?

Whilst we have always patrolled the city centre streets lined bars and clubs on weekends, the work that has been going on over the last year has been more than just patrols and responding to incidents when they happen.

 

We’ve been focussing more and more on prevention and working together with partners to

 

  • identify potential perpetrators and target them
  • identify people who are vulnerable and protect them

This means that we have been working with a number of other agencies also on duty at this time of night to identify men showing predatory behaviour and intervening before it escalates.

 

You may have seen some coverage in local media recently on this.

 

Specifically, we have been working with licensed premises and encouraging professionals to intervene when they see something isn’t right, like women being subjected to unwanted behaviour.

 

In addition, Street Pastors and Welfare Officers in Licensed Premises are looking out for those who are vulnerable, upset, on their own, or appear unwell, alongside the help of St John’s Ambulance staff.

 

Licensed premises have also been setting up Safe Spaces in their premises and have been making it easier for women to report incidents, and encouraging staff to notice vulnerabilities and call out behaviour.

 

We’re all working together, sharing information, and setting up initiatives to make sure people have a safer night and take action against those showing concerning behaviour.

 

Whilst we will always look to arrest if a crime has been reported to us, this initiative aims to use other powers to prevent it from getting that far. Instead, we have been issuing orders prohibiting people identified as a risk from being in the area, and getting them to leave. Specifically men harassing or approaching women.

 

This is where no offences have been reported but their behaviour has been identified as worrying – a bit like a ‘red flag.’

 

So far, we’ve issued

 

  • More than 200 dispersal orders in the city between April 2021 and March 2022 to exclude certain people from the area who are causing anti-social behaviour or displaying concerning, unwanted behaviour.
  • More than 180 post-conviction orders have been applied for which ban people from licensed premises following a conviction
  • 2 Community Protection Warnings, stopping someone from entering the area at all after they have been observed to continually behave a certain way

These actions are there to help protect women from harm. 

 

On most occasions, people can be spoken to about their behaviour and warned, but when this isn’t enough, officers have used these orders as a preventative measure to relentlessly pursue perpetrators. Not only trying to make women and girls feel safer, but also sending a clear message to men who think they can intimidate, continue to harass or invade women’s spaces, that Hampshire is not the place for them.

 

We know that some people will argue that men are victims too. Absolutely, they are. Men are victims of violent offences, normally committed by other men, men are also victims of sexual offences. This initiative is not ignoring men as victims. It’s targeting those who are perpetrators, caring for those who need our help.

 

#SaferSouthampton

Share

Footer navigation

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

  • Contact us
  • News
  • Press
  • About us
  • Procurement
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the police
  • Police & Crime Commissioner

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.