Path launches new feature to help find the safest route home

There are fears that people could be at greater risk of stalking, violence, and sexual offences during the World Cup, leading the app Path to launch a new feature.

It follows alarming increases in all three recorded crime areas following the Euros 2021.

Path, a leading safety app set up following the death of Sarah Everard has found that:

• Stalking offences increased from 73.6 offences per 100,000 people to 94.5 offences per 100k when the Euros were on (+28.5 percent)

• Violent offences (including murder and serious injury) increasing by 14.2 percent from 158.7 per 100,000 to 181.3. 

• Sexual offences (including rape and sexual assault) also increased by 16 percent from 21.3 per 100,000 to 24.7.

As a result of this data from the Office for National Statistics, Path has launched a new feature to offer safety-graded routes home. If the user strays from their designated ‘path’ or route home, the app checks in, and if there is no response, sends a notification to the user’s selected ‘guardians’. These ‘guardians’ can then check on the user and alert the police if they cannot make contact. 

Users are also able to flag hazards, such as poor street lighting or alleyways, which are alerted to local law enforcement and councils, adding an extra layer of live protection.

Path CEO and founder, Harry Mead, says, “Path is there to help people get home safe. Everyone should feel empowered to travel, especially during this festive season, when more people will be out watching the football. Our new feature takes the worry out of choosing what the safest route is, providing safety graded options so users can choose what works best for them.”

Path ambassador, Nimco Ali, adds, “It’s shocking, but not surprising, to see that offences like stalking and sexual offences increased so significantly during a major football event. Nobody should feel unsafe to travel alone, which is why I am proud to support Path.”