Northern Ireland named most dangerous UK region for women: what needs to change?
Recent reports highlighted by the BBC has named Northern Ireland as the most dangerous region in the UK for women.
It’s a headline that stops you but for many women, it won’t feel surprising.
The reality behind the headlines
The data reflects what women have been saying for years:
Feeling unsafe walking alone at night
Being followed, watched, or harassed in public spaces
Changing routes, clothing, or behaviour to avoid risk
Not reporting incidents because “nothing will happen”
These are everyday experiences shaping how women move through the world.
When a region is labelled “most dangerous”, it often says as much about underreporting elsewhere as it does about crime itself.
The bigger issue: visibility vs reality
The real danger isn’t just what’s happening, it’s what isn’t being seen:
Incidents go unreported
Patterns go unrecognised
Support isn’t always accessible in the moment
Data isn’t always shared across agencies
What actually makes a difference?
If we’re serious about tackling this, the focus needs to shift from reaction to everyday prevention and visibility:
Making it easier to report concerns safely and anonymously
Giving people tools to stay connected in real time
Ensuring local authorities can act on live insight, not outdated data
Embedding safety into daily routines (not just emergencies)
Where imabi fits in…
This is exactly where imabi’s ecosystem is designed to step not as a replacement for policing or policy, but as the missing layer between people, places and support.
Through the free Travel Guardian app, individuals can:
Share their journey or arrival with trusted contacts
Access local safety information and support services
Report concerns anonymously via trusted routes like Crimestoppers
Receive real-time, location-based alerts
Contribute to insight through snapshots and surveys
For partners, including local authorities, councils and transport providers, it creates something just as important:
👉 Real, local, usable insight that helps identify patterns early and respond faster.
Source: BBC News, March 2026