A new campaign that encourages men to identify and challenge unwanted behaviour among their peers has been launched throughout Darlington town centre in a bid to prevent sexual harrasment. 

Posters highlighting the need to cut out sexual harassment and make people feel safer, particularly when they’re on a night out, have been put up in popular night-time venues throughout the town. 

Darlington, which has Purple Flag status, already offers a safe night out to residents and visitors. The latest Safer Streets campaign sees the council, police and local venues combine to make night times even safer for women. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness about male sexual harassment throughout the winter period by de-normalising male sexual entitlement and asking men of Darlington to identify unwanted behaviour and challenge their friends who display it. 

Several striking statements have been released alongside the campaign, which highlight the dangers of sexual harrasment in public places. 

“As Christmas party season gets in full swing, just take a minute to think about how your behaviour can impact on others,” a campaign appeal reads. 

“Has that girl at the bar you fancy told you no already? Walk away and leave her alone.

“Walked past a woman in a short skirt? Keep your thoughts to yourself.

“Your mate being creepy with the barmaid? Call him out - let him know his behaviour’s unwanted and he’s on his own.”

The Northern Echo: Posters have been erected around the town including inside Darlington MarketPosters have been erected around the town including inside Darlington Market (Image: The Northern Echo)

“Be respectful, respect your surroundings and each other”

 

Town centre bar manager Rachel Morris recently enrolled all her staff on training to improve customer safety and wellbeing and believes venues have a responsibility to support and protect victims. 

She said: “This campaign is about those sorts of behaviours that people might shrug off. We don’t get a lot of flirty behaviour where my staff are concerned but it does happen. From a female’s perspective in a bar job, it may be ‘what you expect’ when it happens, but should you? Other people shouldn’t have to apologise for their friends – but sometimes they are the best placed to remind them of the right way to behave. 

“My advice to men on a night out in town is: be respectful, respect your surroundings and each other – speak to people how you expect to be spoken to back. Northern people are friendly, talking to people is important, talk to women but be aware of your behaviour and the way it might make others feel.” 

“It's gender and sexuality-based insults that some men seem to think are a laugh”

 

Nicole has spent the last two and a half years working as a security steward on events in Darlington and beyond. The former hairdresser explains why she followed her brother into the job, and how men can help ensure a safe atmosphere while keeping their mates on side.

"We do get a few events where ladies will come over and say that they are being watched or followed and that it’s making them feel uncomfortable or fearful. You can’t go over to someone and accuse them, so you need to ensure that you keep an eye on the situation." 

“The kind of things I get asked by men while I am on duty are: ‘Will you turn me on by arresting me', ‘can I pay you to choke me', that sort of thing. I get called a fat lesbian quite a lot – I am straight, and I wouldn’t say I am particularly overweight. It's those kinds of gender and sexuality-based insults that some men seem to think are a laugh to direct at female security. 

"I remember, in particular, a drunk man – shouted: ‘I’d f*ing smash you, I’d give you it.’ to a woman, in front of her children at a family event. He was of course asked to leave, but it shouldn’t have happened."

The Northern Echo: Nicole working in Darlington Nicole working in Darlington (Image: Safer Streets Darlington)

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