The collaboration between University College London and Islington Council has produced a detailed, mixed‑method study of women’s experiences of safety and insecurity in and around Finsbury Park. The research, led from UCL’s Anthropology and Psychiatry departments, combines population data with on‑the‑ground ethnographic work to explore how threat in public places intersects with women’s mental health and everyday lives.
What the project did
The team used a layered approach: they analysed population‑level census information while also engaging directly with local women through qualitative methods. In total, the project carried out in‑depth work with 30 women who live and work in the study area, and made use of participant‑led photography to probe everyday experiences.
- Walk‑along interviews and emotional map making to capture responses in situ;
- Photovoice with a subset of participants, using images and narration to convey personal perspectives;
- Integration of census and population data to situate individual stories within wider patterns.
Why this matters for Islington
Women’s safety in urban spaces has been a growing focus of public policy and media debate since high‑profile incidents nationally. Locally, this study sought to move beyond headlines to understand how fears and insecure environments affect people’s wellbeing. By linking qualitative testimony to population measures the work offers a foundation for targeted interventions and planning decisions in the borough.
“What do you desire in your environment? What are your basic rights here?”
The research team emphasised knowledge exchange with council stakeholders and community groups. That process led to further partnership work, including a survey conducted in 2025 with the support of Islington Faiths Forum which drew over 500 respondents.
Methods and local follow‑up
The interdisciplinary nature of the team—drawing on anthropology and psychiatry—meant the project could link emotional and experiential accounts to questions about mental health and service need without relying on one method alone. The study’s outputs were shared across Islington Council teams and with community organisations, generating practical conversations about how neighbourhood design, policing, transport and community support might be adapted.
| Method | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Walk‑along interviews | Capture feelings and safety assessments in situ |
| Emotional map making | Visualise spaces associated with fear or comfort |
| Photovoice | Participant‑led photographs and narration to show everyday risks |
| Census/population data | Provide demographic context for qualitative findings |
For Islington residents the immediate consequence is clearer evidence to inform local policy: better targeted community safety measures, improvements to public spaces and a stronger link between violence‑related fear and mental health provision. The study does not prescribe specific solutions within the released material, but establishes a basis for council teams and voluntary groups to prioritise action where the lived experience of women indicates greatest need.
Further outputs and detailed recommendations were developed through the partnership and exchanges with local stakeholders; Islington residents and community groups can expect these discussions to feed into future consultations and service planning.
