Leeds: More than a third feel unsafe walking the city at night

It comes as two thirds of women say they feel unsafe alone in the evenings - a sharp rise from a few years ago.

Transcript

00:00Concerns about safety on the streets are growing across Yorkshire, including here in the city

00:07of Leeds. More than a third of people in the region say they feel unsafe walking home alone

00:12at night, and an even higher number worry about alleyways. Calls to services like StrutSafe

00:17are rising, reflecting wider fears. Women are particularly affected. Almost two-thirds

00:22of those who walk alone at night feel unsafe, a sharp increase in just a few years. More

00:27people are also taking extra steps to protect themselves, from avoiding certain streets

00:31to carrying alarms. In Leeds, campaigners say more needs to be done to improve lighting

00:37and tackle harassment so people feel safer. Some areas, including the city centre and

00:42Hyde Park, have also seen higher reports of street harassment. There are also calls for

00:46improved late-night transport to give people safer options for getting home.

00:51Local businesses and venues are being encouraged to sign up for Safe Spaces initiatives, offering

00:56shelter to anyone who feels at risk.