Essex County Council has announced its next steps to improve women’s safety.

The Safety Advisory Group, along with other key partners, will attend an event tomorrow to plan further action to help improve women’s safety.

The group was originally set up in May to identify and act to improve women’s safety and protection.

It has since established services to gather views and experiences.

The group was founded two months after the death of Sarah Everard, 33, who was murdered and raped by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens as she walked home alone from a friend’s house in Clapham.

He is due to be sentenced today.

The event will look to action recommendations by the end of the year.

These include assurances of improved safety in public spaces and on public transport, helping men understand the impact of inappropriate behaviour towards women, the improvement of the night-time economy and the stereotypes and negative attitudes towards women.

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The council has provided support with funding for the new measures of up to £500,000.

Councillor Louise McKinlay said: “I remain as committed as ever to not only work with partners to address public safety issues but also in challenging attitudes towards women in society.”

Beverly Jones, from Colchester based Next Chapter, said: "We all agree that the level of violence and fear of violence experience by women and girls is unacceptable and change is required. It is the responsibility of every single one of us to speak out, to name and challenge, and to work together to take action.

"I look forward to joining the SAG on Thursday, where I hope that the years of experience we have supporting women experiencing the violence and fear of violence associated with domestic abuse will be helpful to the wider women’s safety discussions and informing the way forward."