Cheshire Police offering free bystander intervention training

Cheshire Constabulary is encouraging those who work in the hair, beauty, or leisure industry to complete a free bystander intervention training session to help keep people safe across the county.

Those who work in the hair, beauty or leisure industry are in a unique position to help support people who may be suffering from misogynistic, sexual or violent behaviour.

The Constabulary is offering those who work in these public-facing industries an opportunity to attend a free training session that will equip them with information on how to identify misogynistic, sexual or violent behaviours and give them the knowledge on how to intervene safely and effectively.

The training - which is being delivered by our education partner Lime Culture, leading sexual violence training and consultancy experts - will help attendees to understand the various signs and forms of abuse and give them the tools to take appropriate and positive actions - making sure the victim is safe and supported.

By the end of the training, they will also know how to refer people to the appropriate support services, if they should need them.

When completed, each trainee will receive a certificate along with a window sticker to proudly display in their business, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate to their customers and guests that they take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and violence.

Operational Lead for the Constabulary’s Safer Streets initiative, Inspector Cliff Goodwin, said: “We are setting the standard that we do not accept sexual harassment, abuse and violence in Cheshire, and neither should anyone else.

“We must all play our part in helping to keep women and girls safe and that is why the Constabulary is investing in training for people who work in public-facing industries - to give them the knowledge on how they can play their part in keeping women and girls safe.

“We hope that you take up our offer of free training, and show to the women and girls across Cheshire, that we stand with them, not against them. No more excuses.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said: “I’d encourage anyone who has the opportunity to undertake this training to do so. Tackling inappropriate and misogynistic behaviour isn’t just the job of a few people. It’s a societal change, that we’re hoping to set the standard for here in Cheshire. There are no more excuses for sexual harassment, abuse and violence.”

Each session will run from 9:30am to 4:30pm and the dates are as follows:

• Tuesday 25 April at Riverside College, Kingsway Campus, Widnes, WA8 7QQ.
• Wednesday 26 April at Riverside College, Kingsway Campus, Widnes, WA8 7QQ.
• Monday 15 May at Cheshire College, Crewe Campus, Dane Bank Avenue, Crewe, Cheshire CW2 8AB.
• Tuesday 16 May at Cheshire College, Crewe Campus, Dane Bank Avenue, Crewe, Cheshire CW2 8AB.
• Monday 22 May at Cheshire College, Chester Campus, Eaton Road, Handbridge, Chester, Cheshire, CH4 7ER.

Lunch will be provided.

To book a place on one of the courses email: 

Safer.Streets@cheshire.police.uk

To find out more about Cheshire Constabulary’s Safer Streets initiative visit:  

Safer Streets | Cheshire Constabulary