Night-Time Economy Systems Maps
Mapping the night-time economy at a local level to reduce unequal harms
Residents do not feel safe around street drinkers
Source of power:
Organisational
Space of power:
TOWN'S IMAGE, REPUTATION AND IDENTITY
Description:
Women have reported that they do not feel safe using Swindon’s bus station. They have highlighted that street drinkers and people addicted to and selling drugs often frequent the station due to its proximity to Manchester Road, and "target" vulnerable women and children using the buses to "get them [back] into drugs". Recent surveys suggest residents feel the town centre is "not a very nice place to go” and not being adequately policed properly. Participants were also concerned for local women’s safety due to reports they have been 'stalked' and 'harassed' by asylum seekers housed in hotels in the town centre.
Quotes from participants:
"It’s [Manchester Road] right by the bus station... when we spoke to these women, they were saying it’s an issue because the street drinkers go in there and people that are addicted to drugs, selling drugs as well, and they were targeting the women that were coming back on the bus after using them services to get them back into drugs. So they didn’t feel safe using the buses"
Primary Connections
