A bystander training programme aimed at tackling street harassment in Norfolk is gaining momentum after early delays, with officials telling the Police and Crime Panel they are confident the 2,000-participant target will be met.

The Street Harassment Bystander programme teaches members of the public how to safely intervene or seek help when they witness harassment. Participation has been growing steadily, and officers said the target remained achievable within the current period.

Panel members welcomed the progress but pressed officers on whether there was evidence the training was actually changing behaviour. Officials acknowledged that no behaviour-change feedback had yet been collected, but said an update would be sought.

Alongside the bystander training, the Police and Crime Commissioner's office is exploring additional time and resources for Project Vigilant, a police-led initiative focused on preventing harassment in Norfolk's night-time economy. Officials described further activity as being actively progressed beyond the current period.

The panel also heard that work is under way in schools to address attitudes that can lead to stalking and harassment. The Commissioner's office has convened a roundtable with education representatives and is working with Norfolk County Council's Children's Services to better understand the scale of the problem across schools.

Partners are waiting for further detail on the Government's national Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which is expected to include a schools offer covering consent education and challenging misogyny. In the meantime, some local initiatives are already running, including work by the Youth Offending Team.

Panel members noted a rise in stalking and harassment recorded by Norfolk Police and called for prevention efforts to include targeted programmes for boys and young men.