Shrewsbury Town and West Mercia Police Engage with Female Supporters to Enhance Matchday Safety

Shrewsbury Town continues to work closely with West Mercia Police to ensure football remains a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all supporters, after officers met with the club’s Female Focus Supporter Group.

The club’s dedicated football officer, PC Chris Rayment, attended the group’s meeting on Tuesday, February 3, alongside Town’s senior safeguarding manager, John Rhodes.

The session provided an opportunity for open discussion, with PC Rayment outlining his role, listening to the experiences of female supporters and exploring ways to further enhance safety and inclusivity on matchdays.

Fans were encouraged to share any concerns they may have when attending fixtures.

PC Rayment said the meeting was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from supporters and work collaboratively on improving the matchday experience for everyone.

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

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

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

The introduction of WalkSafe forms part of wider work across the region to improve safety in public spaces, particularly for women and girls.

The initiative is supported by West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner and funded by the Home Office.

Shrewsbury Town would like to thank PC Rayment and West Mercia Police for their continued engagement with our supporters and their commitment to making matchdays safe and welcoming for all.

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