Stoke night safety app helps residents plan safer journeys

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-06-03 22:08 Updated: 10:17 4 min read

Close up of a person holding a smartphone displaying a digital map application.

A night-time safety app is being rolled out across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme to help residents and visitors plan journeys, share their location and find accredited safe spaces when travelling after dark.

WalkSafe has been introduced through a partnership involving Staffordshire Police, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, as officials continue their efforts to crack down on illegal tobacco sales across the area. The rollout was announced on Monday, 1 June 2026, and covers both the city and the neighbouring borough.

The app is aimed at anyone who wants extra reassurance on a night out, including people travelling home from pubs, clubs, bars, work, events or visits to friends. It is designed as a practical tool rather than an emergency service replacement.

What WalkSafe lets users do before heading home

WalkSafe offers several features intended to make night-time travel easier to plan and easier to share with trusted contacts.

Users can share their live location with selected people, allowing friends or family to follow their journey. They can also plan and track routes, which may be useful when moving between venues, walking to public transport, or leaving town and city centres late in the evening.

The app also includes access to a UK-wide map of accredited safe spaces and venues. That feature is intended to help people identify places where support may be available if they feel uncomfortable, separated from friends, or unsure where to go next.

The app is available for Android and Apple phones. Residents are being directed to the WalkSafe website and the official app stores for download information.

Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme coverage

The local rollout covers Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, two areas with busy evening economies and regular movement between town centres, hospitality venues and transport links.

For Stoke-on-Trent, the app adds a digital layer to existing community safety work in the city. For Newcastle-under-Lyme, the involvement of the borough council and Newcastle-under-Lyme BID connects the app to town-centre businesses and the local evening economy.

That partnership matters because safety after dark is rarely handled by one organisation alone. Police visibility, venue standards, street lighting, transport options, licensed premises and public awareness all shape how confident people feel when they travel at night.

Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said everyone deserves to feel safe while out and about, especially women who often take steps to protect themselves when heading home at night.

He said the rollout gives people simple, practical tools to feel more confident and supported while travelling across the city.

Why the app is being promoted now

The councils said the rollout builds on existing community safety measures already in place across Staffordshire. The stated aim is to make communities safer and strengthen confidence in towns and city centres.

The announcement cited research showing that 81 percent of women feel they have to consider their safety when getting home from pubs, clubs and bars. It also said people are 63 percent more likely to visit venues where visible safety measures are in place.

Those figures help explain why local authorities and police are framing the app as part of wider work around the night-time economy. A safer-feeling route home can influence whether people stay out, which venues they choose, and how comfortable they feel moving through public spaces after dark.

Visible safety measures can also help businesses. For venues, participation in recognised safety schemes and clear support routes may reassure customers before they arrive and when they leave.

How residents can use it on a night out

Residents who choose to use WalkSafe should set it up before they need it. That means downloading the app, checking location permissions, choosing trusted contacts and becoming familiar with journey planning features before going out.

People using the app should still follow usual safety steps: keep phones charged, plan the route home, stay with friends where possible, use licensed transport when needed and call emergency services if there is an immediate risk.

WalkSafe is a reassurance and planning tool. It does not remove the need for police support, venue staff assistance or emergency help where someone is in danger.

Next steps for local venues and residents

The rollout now depends on public awareness, local promotion and how clearly venues and partners signpost the app to people using Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme at night.

Residents can look for WalkSafe in the official Android and Apple app stores. Businesses, venues and community partners involved in the evening economy can use the rollout to review how customers are supported when leaving premises, waiting for transport or seeking help late at night.

The councils said the app forms part of wider community safety work across Staffordshire, with the local partnership focused on improving confidence in city and town centres.

Source: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This article is based on the published Stoke-on-Trent City Council notice about the WalkSafe rollout across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Checks

Confirmed the announcement date as Monday, 1 June 2026.
Checked the named rollout partners: Staffordshire Police, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, New...
Kept the app functions to those stated in the source: live location sharing, journey plann...
Separated app reassurance features from emergency service advice.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council Check wider coverage