Shops unite for children's safety
• Local business owners Katrina Barnett, Sarah Powell, Leonie Stein, Maria Kling and Ros Gerke.
By Daisy Baker
January 22, 2020
A new initiative among Bridport shop owners is seeking to create safe spaces for children to go should they feel in danger.
Bridport business owner and resident Leonie Stein, who is also a Dorset Councillor, approached businesses throughout the town after an incident last year which left local parents on edge.
In November, a man approached two young girls in the foreshore playground, calling them by name and offering to take them for pizza.
Ms Stein said they got scared and ran over to the IGA.
“I thought that was just great that they had the sense to do that and wanted to do something that ensured our kids are safe,” she said.
Every business in the town from the Explore Learning Childcare up to the top IGA has come onboard, welcoming children to come in if they need assistance.
“Parents can tell their children that no matter where they are in the street in Bridport, they’ve got a safe place to go,” she said.
“That’s incredible that everyone is onboard. Everyone is flat out, especially this time of year but to know that they’re prepared to do that and provide a safe place for a child is great.
“We already have cameras on the back of the hall and throughout the town so there is constant surveillance so this strengthens our wish to keep kids safe.”
Maria Kling from Sublime Hairdressing in Bridport said over the years she has had several children come into the salon looking for help.
“There was one child whose bike broke down and he was really upset and was late home,” she said.
“He came in and asked if his mum came to the salon and I said it didn’t matter if she was a client or not.
“I found his mum through Facebook and let her know where he was.”
Another safety measure Ms Stein recommended was establishing a secret family password.
Together as a family you work out a secret password and if anyone outside the family needs to pick up the children, they must give the password before the children leave with them.
Going forward, Ms Stein said she hopes this approach is taken up throughout the municipality, with every town becoming a safe town.