Harassment and poor lighting among concerns as women respond to council safety survey

Street harassment, poor lighting, people hanging about on the street and mobile phone thefts are among the concerns of women who are pinpointing places in Hackney where they feel unsafe.

They have been responding to the council’s call for information from people who live or work in the borough, so that certain areas can be improved with measures such as better street lighting or clearing undergrowth.

So far 214 people have added their views to a map of Hackney.

The map was launched by the councillor in charge of community safety, Susan Fajana-Thomas, during the annual 16 days of activism opposing violence against women and girls last month.

It has added poignancy following the recent murders of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, and sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.

People can share their views through the survey until Tuesday 25 January and the results will be analysed by March.

Their input will form part of the council’s three-year strategy to eliminate violence against women and girls.

One resident described how their mobile phone was “snatched out of my hand by a mugger on a bike – very fast, very acomplished”.

They said there needed to be more CCTV covering estates in Hackney.

The resident explained “minimal overlooking + no CCTV = free pass for muggers”, adding that “anyone who lives here knows there are cycle gangs and lone cycle muggers”.

Another resident who nearly had their phone stolen echoed the call for more lights and cameras to deter crime.

Others called for better lighting, especially near parks. One said their route home from train stations can feel “very dark and quiet”.

“It’s very unsettling when you’re walking down a dead end and there’s so much activity,” said one resident, referring to an increase in vans and bikes visiting warehouses in a Shoreditch side street.

Another respondent said they wanted “much more lighting at night time, especially under bridges” at the Regent’s Canal and “visible CCTV around”.

They said: “Would definitely not walk on my own at night. Even cycling feels pretty scary.”

Another woman said lights have been out of action for years at an estate off the Kingsland Road.

They told the council: “The lamp posts on the Harman estate in the square area have not been working for over four years, so the pathways are dark in the evening and at night time when residents of the estate are returning home from the bus stop on Kingsland High Road. I do not feel safe as a woman.”

Residents also reported concerns about groups of men, or drinkers, on the street, making them feel uneasy.

People reported experiences of “street harrassment and cat-calling”.

They also spoke about feeling “really scared” at night on less busy roads and said they were bothered by “cars slowing down near me when I am walking past”.

One raised concerns about a side street near Regent’s Canal: “Lots of groups of men hanging out down this street. Drug deals in cars, poorly lit.”

Another pointed out work was needed near Stoke Newington police station, saying: “At night the area behind the police station is very dark and very empty, have come across men following/commenting and it feels unsafe as lots of dark corners.”

Several people want to see safety measures at Green Lanes and Stoke Newington Church Street to make them feel safer going to and from work.

One resident called for better CCTV on Blackstock Road near the border with Islington and said it “feels pretty scary at night”.

Another called for “a safety phone that women could just pick up and it goes straight to the police station, a bit like they have on motorways for breakdowns”.

Add your voice to the survey at Have Your Say Today – Hackney Women’s Safety – Commonplace.