Women's safety in public spaces

Women and girls can experience abuse by strangers in public spaces. This includes unwelcome remarks and gestures, being followed or attacked.

Public spaces

Public spaces are places that are open and accessible to the general public, such as:

• streets
• in and around public transportation
• schools
• workplaces
• public toilets
• water and food distribution sites
• parks

Support

If you have experienced any unwelcome interaction, whether it was physically violent or not, remember it is not your fault. The fault always lies with the perpetrator.

Bystanders

If you see someone experiencing abuse, looking uncomfortable or fearful of someone else/a group of people, it can be extremely helpful if you:

• Say something to the perpetrator e.g.
  • ‘Please stop that’,
  • ‘that’s not funny, it’s offensive’ or
  • ‘I can see you’re from xxx school, I’ll be reporting you to the Headteacher.’
• Tell someone else, e.g. a Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officer, the bar staff, the bus driver or your HR officer at work.
• Offer support to the victim or other bystanders, e.g.
  • ask the victim if they are ok,
  • would they like you to call someone, or
  • would they like you to walk with them to a safe destination.
• Create a diversion so that the victim can escape the situation, e.g. asking the perpetrator for directions or if at work, ask the perpetrator about a piece of work you would like help with.
• Report the incident to our Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers, who can then target that public space to prevent repeat incidents.
• Report to police by calling 999 if an emergency, 101 if a non-emergency. If you prefer to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report it using their form.

Find out more about being a good bystander via the national #Enough Campaign.

Worried about your behaviour?

It’s never easy to admit when we’ve crossed a line or overstepped the mark. But if you can think of a situation when your behaviour has:

• upset,
• embarrassed,
• hurt,
• controlled or coerced someone  - be honest with yourself. It’s the first step to making a change for the better.

Abuse takes many forms:

• verbal,
• emotional,
• sexual and
• physical.

Some people don not recognise the impact this behaviour can have on the person who experiences it, or that many of these behaviours could be criminal.

How you can change

• Put yourself in their place. How you would feel if this behaviour was being directed at you?
• Always treat women and girls as your equal.
• Accept that women and girls don’t appreciate acts you might not recognise as wrong, e.g. making sexually explicit comments towards them in the street. At best, it’s embarrassing, and at worst, it can be intimidating or frightening.
• Give women and girls space on the street, or on a train or bus. Women are often on constant alert in public spaces, so this can help them feel safer.
• Do not assume that you’re entitled to sex, you’re not. Having sex without consent is sexual assault or rape. Consent can only be given with a clear and enthusiastic ‘yes’. Anything else,  including silence, is a ‘no’ that must be respected.
• Don’t think porn is how sex should be. Just as films are not real life, porn is not real sex. It often shows damaging behaviour towards women, without mutual consent or communication.
• Are your mates or family a bad influence? Don’t get drawn into abusive behaviour, just to be ‘one of the boys'.
• Bring your children up to be respectful of both men and women and see them as equal in society.

Get help with your behaviour

If you are concerned about your behaviour contact Respect

Tel: 0808 802 4040

Email: info@respectphoneline.org.uk

Information taken from the national #Enough Campaign