Latest news
February 2024
Watch our latest story on ITV news with Jay Akbar to see Irfan Shah one of our "real men" delivering a taster of our Dont Stand By, Step in! Workshop to boys from our local football club Kit out.
June 2023
Read about This Has to Stop and the launch of it’s the law in the Spring and Summer editions of Redbridge Life
Watch our latest story on ITV news London with Helen Keenan to see how we are working with the police to tackle the issue of sexist harassment in Redbridge. (Starts at 12 mins 25 seconds)
Listen to Cllr Kam Rai, Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council on BBC London interviewed by Eddie Nestor about the first anniversary of the murder of Zara Aleena. Cllr Kam Rai spoke about the impact the murder had on our community and the importance of yesterday's vigil. During the interview, he mentioned our Public Space Protection Order, the women's safety walks and the This Has To Stop campaign.
March 2023
We redoubled our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls by launching ThisHasToStop, a multi-year initiative to challenge sexist behaviour.
The programme aims to end the harassment and abuse of women and girls, making it clear that in Redbridge, there is ‘No place for abuse’.
Informed by the experiences of local women and backed up by research into what works, the campaign encompasses a wide-ranging programme, including projects with schools, community groups, service providers and businesses.
January 2023
Following the murder of Zara Aleena last year, BBC London were keen to find out what we’re doing to reassure the community and talk about what has been done. To highlight this, BBC London filmed a Women’s Safety Walk in Ilford. As part of the filming, they interviewed The Leader, Cllr Jas Athwal, Redbridge Police and women who joined the walk.
December 2022
Redbridge Council became the first local authority in London to issue a fixed penalty notice of £100 to a man for harassing a woman in the street.
The £100 fine was issued on Friday 16 December, to a man in Ilford, east London, for sexual harassment using the council’s Public Space Protection Order to enforce against catcalling and harassment. As part of a special covert operation in Ilford Town Centre, Redbridge Enforcement Officers witnessed a woman being harassed and, with the help of the local Police, detained the man responsible.
This story generated widespread media coverage and was covered by a number of regional and national media titles and broadcasters, including BBC, Evening Standard, Guardian, Metro and Mirror.
November 2022
Redbridge Council launched the Women’s Safety Mission Statement at Full Council.
The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, was joined by the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Thavathuray Jeyaranjan, Deputy Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Namreen Chaudhry, Women’s Champion for Redbridge, Cllr Saima Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Crime Safety and Community Cohesion Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, Chief Executive Claire Symonds, Women’s Network Senior Sponsor Pervinder Sandhu and Superintendent Lisa Butterfield to officially launch the statement.
The Council, Police and partners share a mission to work together with local people, businesses, workplaces and institutions to ensure public spaces feel safer and are safer for women and girls in Redbridge.