Your safety

The chances of you or a member of your family becoming a victim of violent crime are low. 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 that 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.

• Children's safety
• Women's safety
• Men's safety
• Student safety

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Children's safety

Teach your children that strangers are people who do not visit your home, and you and your parents do not go to theirs.

Street wise children:

• Always stay with others when playing away from home and look after younger brothers and sisters and friends.
• Always tell parents where they are going, and with whom and what time they will be back.
• Always return home at the time they were told to be back.
• Always inform a parent, teacher, police or a known adult know if they are approached by a stranger.
• Never take sweets, money or gifts from a stranger.
• Never go for a walk with a stranger or get into a stranger's car, whatever excuse he or she uses.
• Never play near water (ponds, rivers, canals), or railway lines, or public toilets, or building sites, empty buildings or busy roads.

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Women's safety

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, and 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. Serious 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 in this section when walking alone.

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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, it is not your fault. If you have been raped, you may or may not want to report it to the police, or to see a nurse or counsellor.

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.

• See the advice on domestic violence for more information about abuse within relationship.
• See the advice on hate crime.

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‘Date rape’
Being open with teenagers about relationships and sex can be difficult – for you and them. But an open relationship will make things better for both of you if something does go wrong.

There are a lot of pressures to become sexually active, and it is important that young people know they do not have to do anything they are not happy with.

Most rape happens between people who already know each other – it is rare to be raped by a stranger. Sometimes, drugs are used to make people easier to rape. This is usually through ‘spiking’ drinks with a pharmaceutical-type drug or with stronger alcohol.

The best way to guard against this is to keep your drink with you, drink out of a bottle and make sure that you take your drink straight from the bar staff.

Research indicates that being drunk can make you more vulnerable to sexual assault. Alcohol effects your actions and reactions as well as your ability to be alert. Perpetrators or sexual assault may take advantage of this and target you because of your vulnerability.

If you are raped or sexually assaulted, it is important to remember that it is not your fault, even if you have been drinking.

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Help services for rape victims

Haven - Whitechapel
Tel: 020 7247 4787
Fax: 020 7247 5802

e-mail: haven@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
website: www.thehavens.org.uk

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Men's safety

While women are most at risk from men on their own, men are more at risk from groups of 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 as quickly as you can.

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.

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 is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, follow information given in sections on sexual assault and domestic violence.

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Student safety

Students are statistically one of the most likely groups to fall victim to crime. Students can be seen as easy targets for criminals. By taking a few precautions you can ensure you don’t become a victim.

• In a hall of residence, be careful who you let in or who follows you into the building. Lock your bedroom door even if you are only going down the corridor.
• Use a door chain.
• Contents insurance would be a good idea.
• Mark your property with the initials of your university and your student ID number – this makes it harder for a burglar to sell stolen goods and help the police to return items to you.
• Get a map of the campus to get to know your safe way around.
• Robbers are after an easy target. Walk in groups at night, travel by taxi or stay over with friends.
• Do not carry laptops around if you can help it.
• Mark your bicycle frame with your postcode or University name and student ID number.