New campaign shows how to walk away from violence on a night out

Help your mates to walk away. That’s the message of a new campaign being launched by Gloucestershire Constabulary to prevent deaths and serious injuries caused by a person being assaulted on a night out.

The We Walk Away campaign encourages self-control, support from friends and for men to walk away from heated situations before other people become violent. It also calls on friends and bystanders of potential offenders, as well as members of the public, to de-escalate situations when it’s safe to.

The campaign, which coincides with the UEFA Euro 2024, is focused on Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud and has been funded after money was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner from the Home Office ASB Hotspot fund.

Under the banner of Operation Ash, these three areas have been identified as targets for Anti-Social Behaviour and incidents of serious violence.

Officers will be patrolling during England games and responding to incidents that may arise and there will be a zero-tolerance approach to those who go out with the intention of causing trouble.

Research shows that most incidents are caused by small triggers, something as basic as an error in judgement, a spilled drink, or a rude comment. Offenders and victims are often men aged between 18 and 30 who did not know each other before the interaction. In most cases, the offender has no criminal background. 

The campaign offers the following tips to help prevent violence on a night out:

1. Keep an eye out for your mates. You know them best, but if they're staring, shouting or squaring up, it's a definite sign to get them to walk away.
2. A quick apology. We're often not our best selves when we're drunk. A quick apology on behalf of a friend can help clear up a misunderstanding before things can kick off.
3. Step in. If you feel safe, you can step in and make eye contact with your mate. It can make it easier to talk them down.
4. Ask for help. If there are other mates out with you, get them to give you a hand. The more people that stand up and step in, the more likely things will calm down. If things are getting out of hand, call 999. In a non-emergency you can call 101.

Inspector Ash Shingler said: "Hopefully it's coming home... and we'd like you to get home safely too and not end up in our custody suite or at a local hospital.

"As the 2024 Euros kick off we want people to enjoy nights out that they remember for all the right reasons. A single punch can ruin lives and this campaign is part of our efforts to make nights out safe for everyone as football is not an excuse to be violent or abusive.

"Here in Gloucestershire we've sadly seen the tragic consequences that just one punch can have, and that is why we are encouraging people to walk away from violent situations which can change lives forever."

Police and Crime Commissioner Chis Nelson, who secured the funding from the Government added: "I want to make Gloucestershire safer, and to do that we all have a role to play.

"We have an excellent nightlife in our towns and City, and this campaign is about making sure that when emotions are running high, you look out for your mates and stop things from getting out of hand.

"Events like the Euros, and other international sport, really brings us all together, so let’s remember that, even if we don’t get the result we want."

Chief Constable Kate Meynell, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Homicide, said: "The consequences of a drunken fight on a night out can be fatal and inflict life-long consequences for everyone involved. Research shows that these assaults tend to happen for trivial reasons, maybe a rude comment, or even just a spilled drink.

"If you find yourself on a night out and in a heated situation, remember the consequences of violence, and ask yourself is it worth it? Is this worth potentially taking someone’s loved one away from them, and taking yourself away from your own family to serve a prison sentence? Is it worth having a criminal record? It never is.

"Too many lives are ruined, and even lost, to drunken behaviour on nights out across the UK. Our message is simple – if it’s you in a heated situation or a friend, think, de-escalate, and walk away."