Personal Safety
Unfortunately barely a week goes by without another violent attack on the city centre streets. Often these are alcohol fuelled but occasionally they are motivated by financial gain, either of which can have a catastrophic conclusion on both individuals and their families.
Out and about
Violent crimes by strangers in public places are still rare and account for a very small part of recorded crime. However, you can make yourself even less likely to be the victim of a violent crime for example, robbery (mugging) or assault by taking a few sensible precautions. Many are common sense, and may be things you already do. Making yourself safer doesn't mean changing your entire lifestyle, personality or wardrobe, and it doesn't mean never going out at all.
Men and women experience crime differently and it is important to remember this so that you can protect yourself as well as possible. You should think about how you would act in different situations before you are in them. Think about whether you would stay and defend yourself (using reasonable force), risking further injury, or whether you would give an attacker what they want, to avoid injury. There is nothing wrong with doing either, but you should think about the options there will be no time to do so if you are attacked.
Some general points:
- You will be safest in bright, well lit and busy areas.
- Try to look and act confident look like you know where you are going and walk tall
- You might like to spread your valuables around your body. For example, keep your phone in your bag, your house keys in your trouser pocket and your money in your jacket.
- If someone tries to take something from you, it may just be better to let them take it rather than to get into a confrontation and risk injury
- You can use reasonable force in self-defence. You are allowed to protect yourself with something you are carrying anyway (for example, keys or a can of deodorant), but you may not carry a weapon.
- If you decide to defend yourself, be aware that your attacker might be stronger than you, or may take what you are using in self-defence and use it against you. It is often better just to shout loudly and run away!
- Shout 'fire' rather than 'help' it can get more results.
- If you use a wheelchair, keep your things beside you rather than at the back of the chair.
- Try not to be conspicuous about the valuables you are carrying. Talking on your mobile phone, carrying a laptop, or showing your friend your new gold ring all show thieves that you are worth robbing.
- When out walking or jogging, you should not listen to a personal stereo through headphones, so you can stay more alert to your surroundings.
- If you are out with a group try not to become separated
Personal safety: women
Everyone has the right to live free of unwanted attention, harassment and abuse. You have this right, whoever you are, whatever your race, background, religion or sexuality, however you dress or act. No one has the right to interfere with this, whether they are strangers, colleagues, friends, acquaintances or family.
Minor sexual assault
This is more likely to happen in crowded places. It includes being touched or rubbed against. It can be hard to know who is doing this, so it is often easier to move away, if this is possible. Try to move to where there are other women. If you feel confident to do so, a stern 'take your hands off me' may make the person stop. This will also alert other people to their behaviour.
Sexual assault and rape
Despite popular beliefs, rape by a stranger is very uncommon. Sexual assault and rape are more likely to happen in less busy areas. You can reduce the risk of this type of attack by following the general guidance earlier in this section. If you are attacked, you must decide whether to defend yourself, which may put you at risk of further injury. Or it may not be possible to defend yourself. Either way, you did not ask to be raped. It is not your fault. You did not deserve it.
If you have been raped, you may or may not want to report it to the police, or to see a nurse or counsellor.
- See the advice on domestic violence for more information about abuse within a relationship.
- See the advice on 'date rape'.
- Also see the advice on hate crime.
The police are specially trained to work with women who have been sexually assaulted. You will be able to talk to a female police officer and to a female doctor or nurse if you go to hospital. If you want to report the crime straightaway, whether you get medical help or go straight to the police, try not to wash or change your clothes. If you want to report the crime at a later date, this is okay too. If you know someone who has been raped, try to be supportive, but do not be judgemental. It is up to them what they do now.
For more information:
Phone Rape Crisis on 0115 900 3560 or visit the Rape Crisis website.
Phone the Victim Supportline on 0845 303 0900 or visit the Victim Support website
Personal safety: men
While women are most at risk from men on their own, men are more at risk from groups of men. Most commonly, young men are attacked by groups of other young men. You can reduce the risk by following the general guidance for example, trying to stay in well-lit or busy areas.
Another way to avoid violence is to stop a confrontational situation turning into an aggressive one. Think about how you react when you get angry. If you feel yourself getting angry with someone, or if they get angry with you, try to move away. It takes a brave man to back down from a fight.
If you have been attacked, you may want to go to the police, or to a doctor. The doctor may also ask you what has happened, but if you don't want to tell them, you don't have to. See the advice on hate crime and the advice on alcohol.
Sexual Assault
Women are not the only victims of sexual assaults. Men are also sexually assaulted, or experience violent relationships in their lives. If you or a friend are a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, follow the information given in the sections on sexual assault and domestic violence.
Your actions towards women
A lot of women's fear of crime comes from men's actions. You can help this by thinking about what you and your friends do. For example:
- don't strike up conversations with women on their own
- try not to walk too close behind they may think you are following them
- respect women's personal space
- don't make comments about women who walk past and remember that 'no' means 'no'.
Personal safety: hate crime
Hate crimes are directed against people because of some aspect of who they are, most typically because they are from an ethnic minority or visible religious minority, or because of their sexuality. Hate crime covers a wide range of behaviour, for example verbal abuse, racist or homophobic graffiti or physical assault. A crime can be classed as a hate crime if the victim or witness see it as being so.
If you are the victim of what you think is a hate crime, it is not your fault. You have the right to live your life free from abuse and violence, whoever you are. You do not have to live with hate crime.
Police are trained to deal with hate crime with sensitivity and tact. They will not treat you differently because you are from an ethnic or religious minority, or because of your sexuality. A lot of police forces also provide self-referral forms, so you can report a crime without having to deal directly with the police.
For more information:
If you have been a victim of a racist and religiously-motivated hate crime, contact:
If you have been a victim of a homophobic hate crime, contact: