Women's safety: a digital guide - Print version

Go back to web version

Personal safety for women in Coventry: practical tips, local help and smart tools

Coventry is a vibrant city, yet many women still plan their days (and nights) with safety in mind. This guide pulls together quick actions, local services, trusted apps, and travel tips so you can feel more confident moving around the city.

Coventry has just been awarded Purple Flag status for the first time (covering the city centre, Earlsdon High Street and the Kasbah). This guide supports Coventry’s newly awarded Purple Flag status and our joint commitment with partners to a safe, welcoming night time environment.

If you need help right now

  • emergency (police, fire, ambulance): dial 999. If you can’t speak, listen and press 55 when prompted to alert it’s a genuine emergency (the “Silent Solution”)
  • non-emergency police: 101
  • medical (urgent, non-life-threatening): NHS 111

Coventry support and helplines

Getting around safely in Coventry

  • licensed taxis and private hire - Coventry City Council licenses taxis and private hire - use licensed vehicles only. Coventry’s hackney carriages (black cabs) are council-licensed and wheelchair-accessible; look for licensing plates/badges. Take photographs and record Registration numbers
  • licensed ride‑hailing apps based taxis provide full journey traceability, verified driver details, live trip sharing and in-app emergency support, all of which increase accountability and control
  • public transport - The Safer Travel Partnership [https://www.safertravel.info/] (West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and Transport for West Midlands) works to keep the network safe and tackle anti-social behaviour. Report concerns to staff or police, and plan routes in advance
  • report places you feel unsafe - Use the national StreetSafe tool [https://www.police.uk/pu/notices/streetsafe/street-safe/] to anonymously flag locations that feel unsafe, for example locations that have poor lighting or could be considered a harassment hotspot. It helps police and partners target improvements. This tool is not for reporting crimes

Safety apps worth considering

Choose tools that fit your preferences (tracking vs. non-tracking, trusted contacts):

  • WalkSafe+ [https://walksafe.io/] – UK-based app with journey-sharing, a safety map highlighting accredited safer spaces, and localised advice
  • Hollie Guard [https://hollieguard.com/] – Personal safety app from the Hollie Gazzard Trust. Discreet alerts, journey monitoring and a “meeting timer” that triggers an alert if you don’t check in
  • bSafe [https://www.getbsafe.com/] – SOS with voice activation, live audio and/or video streaming to contacts and automatic recording. (Check privacy settings and data usage. Always review an app’s privacy policy and test features with a trusted friend before relying on them)

Nights out: simple steps that help

  • “Ask for Angela” [https://askforangela.co.uk/] in participating venues, ask staff for Angela if you feel unsafe, harassed, or need to discreetly exit a situation - they’ll step in and help. Coventry venues are supported to roll this out
  • the Women’s Night Safety Charter [https://coventrybid.co.uk/work/womens-night-safety-charter/] encourages local venues and operators to improve safety at night through training, reporting, and safer spaces, look for venues that have signed up

Everyday habits that increase confidence

  • share your plan: tell a friend your route and ETA; use live location or a check-in timer
  • stay charged and carry basics: phone battery, portable charger and an emergency contact card
  • situational awareness: keep one ear free, notice exits and trust your instincts - leave early if something feels off
  • drink spiking awareness: don’t leave drinks unattended; seek staff help immediately if you feel unwell and remember “Ask for Angela”
  • document and report: if safe, note descriptions/vehicle plates and report to the police. Use StreetSafe [https://www.police.uk/pu/notices/streetsafe/street-safe/] to flag non-crime concerns so lighting and CCTV patrols can be improved

Digital and home safety quick wins

  • travel and ride-hailing: match the vehicle, plate and driver photo in your app; sit in the back and share your trip
  • privacy: review social media location settings and avoid posting your live location publicly
  • home: good lighting at entrances, lock windows and doors, and avoid letting unknown callers in - use a chain or spy-hole where possible

For allies and bystanders

  • check in: a simple “Are you okay?” can interrupt harassment
  • get help: alert venue staff, transport staff, or call 999 if someone is in immediate danger
  • report: use StreetSafe for environmental concerns; encourage victims to contact local services like CRASAC or Safe to Talk
  • report any hate crime: gender identity, race, sexual orientation, religion or other perceived difference, including verbal abuse, threats, harassment, violence - anyone can report it to the police (999 in an emergency, 101 otherwise) or online via True Vision [https://www.report-it.org.uk/]

Local initiatives improving safety

  • Coventry partners are investing in night-time safety - training venues such as Ask for Angela and WAVE, coordinating street patrols and business radio and working towards broader night-time safety goals via the city’s Community Safety Partnership Plan

Final thought

Safety shouldn’t be a solo project - but until every public space is safe for everyone, small preparations, local knowledge and the right tools make a real difference.

Please share this guide with friends, colleagues and family and add your voice by reporting issues you encounter, so the places women move through every day keep getting safer.

Go back to web version