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PC's lamppost plan to keep women safe rolled out

Marc Gaierand
Jonny Humphries,North West
News imageMarc Gaier/BBC Frank Stevens, who aged around his late 40s and has a bald head, a grey and black beard and glasses, looks into the camera with a serious expression. He is wearing a black waterproof style coat and a blue shirt and tie. In the background is an orange lamp-post with a yellow sign, and pub with whitewashed brick walls. Marc Gaier/BBC
PC Frank Stevens came up with the idea and won the backing of Merseyside's top brass

A police officer's idea to turn lampposts into special Halo Points - designed to help people to seek immediate help - has impressed so much that nine have been installed across Liverpool city centre.

Merseyside Police constable Frank Stevens, who specialises in licensing, said the posts formed part of a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

The Halo Points, which resemble bright orange lampposts, are watched by CCTV and are fitted with an intercom that connects straight to a 999 operator.

PC Stevens said: "When the idea came into my head, I wrote it down and then put it through the chain of command - that went through to the Home Office who provided the funding for it."

The Halo Points are the second part of a strategy which began in November last year with a programme to train security and other staff at bars and clubs across the city centre to become Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) "champions".

Those who volunteered completed a training course helping them recognise when someone was vulnerable, how to challenge predatory behaviour and respond to spiking incidents.

News imageMarc Gaier/BBC A yellow metal intercom with a call button fitted to an orange lamp-post. The numbers 999 are painted onto the box in grey followed by the phrase 'Tackling Violence Against Women & Girls' and then 'Operation Halo'.Marc Gaier/BBC
The Halo Points are in visible, well-lit areas and are monitored by CCTV cameras

The trained VAWG Champions can also be alerted to anyone in distress at the new Halo Points by the City Watch CCTV operators.

Stevens told the BBC: "The set-up is if a female, for example, was being followed and felt uncomfortable, scared or nervous, they can go under the points, they'll be watched by CCTV, fully illuminated, and once they press that call button it can't be interrupted then - so no matter what happens that call will go through to 999."

'Anyone can seek help'

Stevens said the points were not solely aimed at women and girls, and some of the posts had also been installed in areas with LGBTQ+ pubs and bars.

"It doesn't have any gender or sexuality," he said.

"Anybody who needs help, who are feeling vulnerable in this city, can seek help and they'll all get that consistent approach."

Both the Halo and VAWG Champion schemes were part of Operation Halo - a response to a threat assessment in 2023 which concluded that violence against women was most likely to happen in busy nightlife areas.

Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, said: "Everyone deserves to feel safe when enjoying Liverpool's night time economy, and Halo Points are a clear, practical step towards making that happen."

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