Women in Falmouth are to 'take back the streets' this evening in response to both local and national issues of increased drink spiking, sexual harassment and unconfirmed reports of an 'attempted kidnapping' in Penryn.

Reclaim the Streets Falmouth will hold a demonstration at The Moor tonight (Friday) at 6.30pm.

Anne Ohne, one of the organisers, said: "It has been organised by locals and students to highlight the harassment that woman face, and to stand in solidarity and remembrance for victims and survivors past and present.

"The event will also highlight the issues around increased policing following Sarah Everard’s kidnapping and murder at the hands of a police officer in March 2021."

Earlier this week it was announced that Government’s Safer Streets Fund, which focuses on violence against women and girls on the streets (VAWG), was awarding £33,649 to Falmouth and Penryn.

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Falmouth and neighbouring Penryn have campuses for both Falmouth and Exeter universities, which support approximately 11,000 students in the area.

The area therefore has a disproportionately large number of young women aged 16-24, more than any other area in Cornwall, and Falmouth and Penryn have higher rates of non-domestic VAWG crimes than the Cornwall average by around a third.

Falmouth's deputy mayor Kirstie Edwards has spoken of her own experiences, while welcoming the allocation of the money, saying: "As a woman I have been harassed on our streets more times than I can count – I also have four daughters, three over the age of 15, and I can confirm that abuse and violence against women is common place."

This week it was also revealed that at least three incidents of drink spiking had been investigated in Falmouth since September, and there was also a recent allegation on social media of an 'attempted kidnapping' on the Penryn Bypass, although when contacted by the Packet police could not find a record of it.

Tonight women will gather at 6.40pm on The Moor to hear from a series of guest speakers, with anyone at the event invited to speak of their own personal experiences.

Anne said: "We're gathering a public space to talk to people who have come there, and also to the public, and to create a space of remembrance. We will be holding a vigil for victims and survivors, past and present, to hold that space for people who haven't been able to find that community.

"A lot of this year has been in isolation and it's an opportunity to come together and just create a space so people can gather safely.

"What we're calling for is a better response from the council and government in addressing the systemic issues. Placing the onus on the perpetrator rather than the victim is one of the key messages."