Officers working with Shrewsbury's female football supporter group

West Mercia Police is continuing in its commitment to ensuring football remains a safe and inclusive environment for female supporters, as officers met with Shrewsbury Town FC’s female fans.

Shrewsbury’s dedicated football officer, PC Chris Rayment, attended the club's Female Focus Supporter Group meeting on Tuesday 3 February alongside John Rhodes the senior safeguarding manager at the club.

The session provided an opportunity for PC Rayment to outline his role, listen to the experiences of female fans and discuss ways to enhance safety and inclusivity on match days. Supporters were encouraged to share any concerns they may have when attending fixtures.

PC Rayment said: “Meeting with the Female Focus Supporter Group was incredibly valuable. It gave us the chance to listen directly to fans, understand their experiences and work together on ways to make match days as safe and welcoming as possible. 

“The group’s insight is vital in helping us shape a more inclusive environment, and I’m grateful for the open and constructive discussion we had.”

During the meeting, PC Rayment also introduced the WalkSafe app, a free personal safety tool, which is now available across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

The app highlights safety-trained venues, such as bars, restaurants and other licensed premises that meet recognised standards through schemes including the Licensed Security & Vulnerability Initiative (LSAVI) and Best Bar None.

WalkSafe also enables users to plan their route home, share their journey with trusted contacts, and access an SOS alert function if they feel unsafe.

PC Rayment added: “Introducing tools like the WalkSafe app is just one of the ways we’re supporting female supporters, and I look forward to continuing this important work with the club and its fans.”

The rollout of WalkSafe across West Mercia forms part of ongoing work to improve safety in public spaces, particularly for women and girls. The initiative is backed by West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner and funded by the Home Office.

The WalkSafe app is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.