A major survey has been launched to capture feedback on how safe women and girls feel across Leicestershire and Rutland as part of ambitious goals to improve the safety of public spaces.

Rutland and Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews is preparing to bid for a slice of £25m from the third round of the Home Office's Safer Streets Fund to increase the protection of women and girls.

The survey, available online, invites respondents to share their experiences of harassment and intimidation during the past 12 months as either victims or witnesses and detail situations, areas or specific times when they feel more unsafe as well as what action they believe is needed to improve safety.

The information will be collated by the PCC's team to enable them to prioritise areas of need so the bid reflects the views and ideas of local residents.

Mr Matthews said: "Everyone has the right to feel safe going about their personal lives and if they don't then something must change.

"To make our streets feel safer for women and girls, we need to prevent crime and this means targeting resources into the right areas to address vulnerability.

"Safer Streets is a real opportunity to secure additional funding to make our streets safer. I would encourage every woman and girl to fill in the survey and help us make decisions that best reflect their needs and the needs of our communities."

The survey should take 10 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous.

If you have any questions about the survey or would like further information about the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner or the Safer Streets initiative, please contact: [email protected]

To complete the survey visit: https://www.leics.pcc.police.uk/Have-Your-Say/Consultations/Safer-Streets-Survey.aspx