Liverpool first for Citysafe

Liverpool is to become the first city outside of the capital to set up safe havens for people who feel threatened by violence.

Thirty-five premises have so far signed up to take part in the scheme which will see staff lock their buildings and wait with the threatened person until either the police or the person’s family arrives.

The scheme was originally set up in London by the London Citizens group, which counts Barry Mizen, whose son Jimmy was stabbed in a London bakery in 2008, as one of its prominent members.

As part of the scheme, shop owners display a highly-visible sign in their window identifying their shop as a safe haven. A person who feels threatened can run inside the shop to take shelter.

The project, called CitySafe, was developed by the London Citizen’s group as a grassroots approach to tackling violence.

There are around 200 places in London displaying the CitySafe stickers including City Hall.
Rather than focus on what the police and state can do to tackle violence and crime, the London Citizen’s group believe that safety comes from better relationships in communities. Consequently, before a place becomes a CitySafe site, the group builds up a relationship with the business owner which includes talking about their own experience of crime and anti-social behaviour. They are also asked to record and report 100 per cent of all incidents of crime which affect either them or their neighbourhood.

Liverpool councillor Ann O`Byrne, said: “This is a very important initiative in which the community can take responsibility for providing protection for those people who feel threatened. Nobody should feel afraid when they are out and about in their neighbourhoods and the knowledge that there is always somewhere they can go if they feel threatened will take away that fear.

Mr Mizen launched the scheme in Liverpool with the Disarm group of CitySafe.