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Police Crime Prevention Academy involved in developing free Safer Parks online course

The Police Crime Prevention Academy (the Academy) is working in partnership with the University of Leeds and other key project partners to develop an accessible online Safer Parks course that will help professionals collaborate more effectively to create parks and green spaces that are safer and more inclusive for women and girls, supporting the UK Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.

    

Supporting VAWG through practical guidance

Parks and green spaces should be welcoming places for everyone. However, research undertaken by the University of Leeds led by Dr Anna Barker found that women and girls are three times more likely than men to feel unsafe in parks, which increased significantly after dark. Importantly, it also revealed that perceptions of safety are influenced by far more than crime statistics alone - lighting, visibility, sightlines, park maintenance and access routes all played a big part in how confident women and girls felt using a space.

These findings informed the development of Safer Parks: Improving Access for Women and Girls guidance. Co-produced by the University of Leeds in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award and Make Space for Girls, the guidance sets out ten practical principles to create parks and green spaces that are safer, more welcoming and inclusive. The second edition of the guidance was endorsed by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI) in 2025.

From guidance to accredited learning

Building on the success of the guidance, the Academy is now working in collaboration with the University of Leeds Digital Education Service and the wider Safer Parks partnership to develop it into an engaging and interactive online course. Designed for professionals involved in the planning, design, management and maintenance of parks and green spaces, the course will help learners apply the Safer Parks Principles and signpost them to additional tools and resources for assessing change and evaluating the impact of interventions.

The 90-minute course is certified by the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) certification service, and endorsed by University of Leeds, Green Flag Award Academy, the Urban Design Group and the Academy to ensure that it contributes to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of police DOCOs, urban design professionals and local authority park managers.  

The course is structured across four modules:

  • Module One – what makes a park feel safe or unsafe  
  • Module Two – the Safer Parks Principles
  • Module Three – designing safer parks
  • Module Four – further resources for assessing change & evaluating interventions

The course features two real-world case studies filmed and documented on location with project partners at Rowntree Park in York and Manningham Park in Bradford. 

Project partners, L-R, Dr Anna Barker, University of Leeds, Paul Todd, Green Flag Awards, Imogen Clarke, Make Space for Girls and Michael Brooke, Police CPI, at Rowntree Park in York

Filming at Rowntree Park included Michael Brooke, Police CPI Head of Government Advocacy and Police Engagement, who contributed to one of the featured case studies. Learners will also have the opportunity to critique a 3D model park and hear about the impact that changes can have on park users.

   

Filming in Rowntree Park

Michael Brooke, Police CPI Head of Government Advocacy and Police Engagement, said: “The Safer Parks online course empowers people with the knowledge and confidence to help keep parks safe for everyone. By raising awareness, building practical skills, and encouraging positive action, it plays an important role in creating safer public spaces—especially for women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by safety concerns.”

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The Safer Parks online course is scheduled to launch on the 5th of October 2026.