Barnet Council launches new ‘safe haven’ scheme.

Barnet Council has launched a pilot scheme in North Finchley to help protect women and girls when they feel unsafe.

The Safe Haven scheme involves businesses around the neighborhood offering temporary refuge to people who need help when they’re out and about in the evening.

The council’s website said the scheme was “primarily aimed at women and girls to access support if they feel intimidated, threatened, harassed or harmed”.

Venues involved in the scheme are My Caffe at 731 High Road, The Elephant Inn at 283 Ballards Lane and The Bohemia at 762-764 High Road.

The services are free and “provide a confidential, personal and safe space”.

The companies will help a person call someone, such as a parent, friend or the police, and “can provide useful information” such as where the nearest bus stop was, which bus to take home and confidence to continue your safe journey.

A blue sticker with the words “Safe Haven” circled will be in the windows of the locations to indicate that the business is part of the program.

Explaining the motivation behind the scheme, a council spokesman said: “Barnet is one of the safest boroughs in London – and we want to keep it that way. We want to make sure Barnet remains a safe place for residents to live and work.

“Our vision is for Barnet to be a borough where everyone can live free from all forms of violence against women and girls.”

For more information about the Safe Haven scheme, visit Safe Havens | Barnet Council