Birmingham City Council’s Community Safety Team is set to bring partners, agencies, and community organisations together this April for a city centre Justice Walk.
The walk coincides with the official Birmingham launch of WalkSafe, one of the UK’s leading personal safety apps.
The event forms an important part of the city’s continued commitment to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and raising awareness of stalking during National Stalking Awareness Month. It also supports the Home Office pilot work on reducing Knife Crime.
Championing Safer Public Spaces
Taking place on 24 April 2026, the Justice Walk will see multiagency representatives walk through Birmingham city centre to highlight the collective effort being made to improve safety, strengthen partnership working and promote visible action against stalking and other forms of gender-based violence.
The initiative aims to reinforce Birmingham’s dedication to prevention, early intervention and enhanced support for residents and visitors moving through the city’s streets and night-time economy.
Introducing WalkSafe to Birmingham
The event will also mark the formal launch of WalkSafe across Birmingham City Centre, an innovative personal safety app designed to empower users through real-time safety information and connection tools.
WalkSafe (and the enhanced WalkSafe+) provides a suite of features that support safer journeys and improved situational awareness, including:
- National Safe Space Map identifying trained venues and support locations offering help, welfare support, free period products and phone charging points.
- Journey sharing tools allowing trusted contacts to follow journeys live and receive alerts if the user does not arrive as expected.
- SOS emergency function sending live location information to nominated contacts when a user feels unsafe.
- Community reporting giving users the ability to flag environmental issues such as poor lighting or obstructed pathways.
- Night‑time safety insights, including visibility of local welfare services such as street marshals and pastors.
WalkSafe has grown rapidly through collaborative work with police forces, local authorities, and community safety partners nationwide, supporting a shared ambition to make public spaces safer for everyone. Information about the app can be found here.
Waqar Ahmed, Assistant Director for Community Safety and Resilience at Birmingham City Council, said: “Creating a safer Birmingham is a shared responsibility, and the Justice Walk demonstrates the strength of our partnerships across the city. By launching WalkSafe alongside this event, we are giving residents and visitors practical tools to feel more confident as they move through our public spaces. Together, we are taking visible, meaningful action to prevent harm and support those affected by stalking and other forms of violence.”
Emma Kay, Founder and CEO of WalkSafe, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be launching WalkSafe in Birmingham. It’s a city full of energy, culture, and community, and our technology enables people to enjoy it with confidence. Thanks to Birmingham City Council and local partners, we’ve been able to plot venues across the city that have safety initiatives in place across our Safety Map. WalkSafe also offers a suite of digital tools, from journey sharing features, to community reporting and SOS alerts in one easy-to-use app, so residents and visitors can feel empowered and informed whilst enjoying what the city has to offer.”
Event Purpose
The Justice Walk will:
- Raise awareness of stalking and mark National Stalking Awareness Month.
- Promote partnership working within Birmingham’s VAWG framework.
- Showcase WalkSafe as a Birmingham-endorsed safety tool.
- Strengthen cross-agency communication and demonstrate visible multiagency commitment to community safety
- Supports the aims and objectives with the Birmingham Community Safety Partnerships Violence Against Woman and Girls Strategy.
Event Details
Date: 24 April 2026
Time: between 12:00pm and 12:15pm to 2pm
Location: Brindleyplace (near the Ikon Gallery/Oozells Square)
Route: Starting at Broad Street, passing The ICC Birmingham and the Library of Birmingham, through Centenary Square, continuing via Paradise and finishing at Victoria Square, outside the Council House.
Participants: Local agencies, VAWG stakeholders, community safety partners, invited organisations
Call for Participation
Birmingham City Council warmly welcomes organisations to join the Justice Walk and support this collective message of safety, prevention and partnership across the city.
