Last month the safety and wellbeing of women was brought to the forefront of our minds again as we heard the high profile news of the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard. Ultimately the world should be a safe place for women, cases like Sarah’s are rare, however catcalling and harassment are common. Unfortunately in times like these we need to remind ourselves of what we can do to keep safe as we are out and about, and what men and boys can do to promote women's safety. Read on for some tips...

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 GOING OUT AT NIGHT

• Try to plan ahead. Make sure someone knows where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to return. 

• Always plan how you are going to get home again.

• Don’t leave your drink unattended, and if you start to feel unwell seek assistance from venue staff.

• When out with friends, look out for each other and consider travelling back together, or “checking in” when you each arrive home safely.

SAFETY WHEN OUT AND ABOUT

• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

• Minimise chatting on your mobile phone or listening to music loudly on your headphones, as this can distract you from your surroundings or any potential danger signs.

• Think about getting a personal safety alarm. Keep it in an easily accessible place and carry it in your hand if you feel at risk. It can be used to momentarily distract an attacker giving you vital seconds to escape.

• If you are out at night, try to stick to busy streets and near other people. Avoid poorly-lit areas, deserted parks, or quiet alleyways .

• Be aware of areas that would be better avoided. Some short-cuts may be great during the day but have a reputation for being unsafe at night.

• If you see someone else in trouble, think twice before trying to help. This may just aggravate the problem and you could end up hurt as well. It may be a lot more helpful to shout for help, call the police or generally make a lot of noise to attract attention.

TRAVELLING BY TAXI

• Share information about your journey and the vehicle you’re using with someone you trust

• Ask the driver to show you their badge before you start your journey  

• Find out which licensed taxis and private hire vehicles operate in your area and plan your journey in advance  

• Examine the taxi or minicab before you get in – is a licence displayed on the vehicle? Does the vehicle look roadworthy?  

• Trust your instincts – if you feel worried or threatened, ask the driver to stop in a busy area so you can get out

• You can report any concerns about taxis or private hire vehicles to the police and your local licensing authority

TRAVEL BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• Where possible wait in a well-lit, busy area

• Don’t be afraid of moving should someone’s behaviour cause you concern

• Trust your instinct

• Call British transport police on 61016 to seek assistance or report incidents on the rail network

UTILISE TECHNOLOGY

Emergency call shortcuts

• On most smartphones, the unlock screen will include an emergency call button without the need to unlock the device.
• On some, pressing the on button and a volume key can also bring up a shortcut to 999.
• On an iPhone 8 or above, continuing to hold these buttons down will sound an alert and start a countdown from three, and if the buttons remain pressed the call will be made automatically.
• iPhone users can also say the number 14 to the voice assistant Siri, which will then ask whether you want to make an emergency call - although in some countries it will connect straightaway.
• Emergency contacts can be set up via the iPhone health app - and the people you choose will be notified if an emergency call is made.
• Google's safety app, available on its Pixel handsets, has a similar function.
• Samsung's emergency mode is designed to prolong battery life while keeping the phone on standby. It limits features and the home screen is displayed as black but it enables emergency calls, calls to an emergency contact, and location-sharing within a message using minimal power.‍

Location-sharing

• ‍There are a number of location tracker apps available to download, and they are popular - but not everybody wants to be tracked all the time.
• WhatsApp users can choose a contact, hit the attachment button to the right of the text box and select "location" - this will share the location of the device, only with the person they are messaging, for a certain period of time, ranging from 15 minutes to eight hours.
• On an Android phone, if the emergency location service is switched on (it's within settings, under the location tab), the device will automatically share its location with the emergency services during a call.
• An iPhone will automatically ping its location once the emergency call is finished, but this can be cancelled by the phone owner.

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This particular case is part of a larger issue of violence against women and girls, check out the EVAW who are a leading coalition of specialist women’s support services, researchers, activists, survivors and NGOs working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms. You can view their website here.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has some more advice regarding personal safety, click here for their website.

And lastly check out Respect not Fear who work to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence by raising awareness, and educating people about, equal and healthy relationships. Check out their website here.

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