Businesses operating in Bristol’s night-time economy are to take part in a high-profile campaign of zero tolerance of harassment of women, including expert training for their staff.
The initiative, the largest of its kind in the city, follows shocking results from a recent survey that revealed 100% of women in Bristol have experienced sexual harassment in some form. 
Organised by Bristol Nights, the city council organisation that coordinates the night-time economy, the zero-tolerance campaign aims to tackle this type of harassment head-on by training 1,000 night-time economy workers in dealing with incidents of sexual harassment.
More than 1,000 billboards and posters will also be displayed across the city and content will be shared on social media to raise awareness and direct people to the campaign website for resources and support.
The introductory training has been specially designed in collaboration with the night-time economy businesses and VAWG (violence against women and girls) agencies and will be delivered in partnership with Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID).
It has been developed by Joanne Cox Brown, an expert adviser to the government’s High Streets Task Force.
The training will support venue staff in implementing a zero-tolerance approach while also promoting the need for anyone witnessing unwanted behaviour in the city’s night-time economy to immediately alert staff.
A limited bursary will be available for low-income and freelance night-time workers to be able to undertake the training.
The campaign will also feature Shine A Light Parade on March 24 when individuals from the city’s night-time economy will lead groups through the city streets, dressed in and carrying lights. 
The parade will end at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre, where speakers and artists will inspire the crowds with performances, poems and stories that invite Bristol to unite in a zero-tolerance approach to the harassment of women in the city.
The city council-backed is being funded by £282,000 from the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund.
Bristol night-time economy advisor Carly Heath said improving the safety of women at night was vital, and a challenge which could not be achieved without allies throughout the city.
“Following a two-month research phase involving a range of Bristol audiences, this project will seek to improve public understanding of what constitutes harassment and how often it happens,” she added.
Carly, pictured, who took up her city council-funded role just under a year ago, said many crimes against women at night went unreported but were widely witnessed.
“This campaign invites bystanders to call out bad behaviour, while empowering those working in the night-time economy to recognise and execute a zero-tolerance response to harassment in their venues and workplaces,” she said.
“Our nightlife communities care about the safety and wellbeing of people enjoying our nightlife. This is such an important message.
“We need to let the people of Bristol know that women deserve to feel welcome in the city after dark and as such, we invite all Bristolians to join our zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment.”
“Survey responses also demonstrate that the behaviours which the public feel constitute sexual harassment are also widely debated. This is telling of the complexity of the issue and that a campaign highlighting what constitutes sexual harassment as well as actions they should take when faced with an incident of harassment is so critical.”
Night-time workers and businesses can sign up here to take part in training sessions throughout March.
