Safety On The Streets
What behaviour makes me more likely to be vulnerable to street crime?
Well, there's a whole range of behaviour, I think, that increases the chances of you becoming a victim of street crime. I think one of them, really, is by showing that you're not particularly aware of your surroundings; that's probably the key one, really. People who commit street crime are looking for somebody who, in a way, are the more easy touch; someone who doesn't look particularly aware, who they can approach quickly, take property from, and get away from quickly. So, if you look unaware of your surroundings or you're on your mobile phone, for example, busy talking, looking like you're engrossed, and they can approach you and get away with your property very quickly, you then become more likely to become a victim of street crime. So, wherever you are, just have an awareness of your surroundings, of who's around you and what they're doing. If you look like you're doing that, you're less likely to be a victim of crime. The other thing is about where you are. Obviously, if you're in a highly-lit high street with CCTV, you're far less likely to become a victim of street crime then you are in darker streets or side streets, or places that haven't got CCTV. However, again, if you show awareness to other people around you, if you are looking around where you are, then you are, again, less likely to become a victim of street crime.
Does the way I dress attract criminals?
I think in broad terms, no, it doesn't. Generally speaking the way you dress can attract people attentions to you, which might then lead to them taking more interest to you as a potential victim of crime. And I don't think it's right to dictate to anybody the way that they should dress, but I think if you choose to dress a particular style you should be aware of the potential attraction that is given to you by other people. And again, we're talking about sensible precautions to try and minimize the risk of you becoming a victim of crime. This could be in some circumstances you go out dress as you wish, but have a coat just to cover up after you've been to an event just to minimize the attraction or the unwanted attention you might get from other people. Obviously there is the risk that if you have jewellery on open display or if you've got a particular hand bag or something, you could be a victim of crime. It's about taking sensible precautions not to draw attention to yourself and taking the opportunity to wear a coat to cover up jewellery, just to minimize the risk.
What should I do if I think I'm being followed?
I think the important thing to do is to stay in or make your way to an area that is well lit and where there's other people around that will give you confidence in your surroundings. If you still feel you are being followed, then going to a shop or somewhere else where there's lots of people. If you still feel someone is lurking around you, you really are concerned, then there is always the option of calling the police if you really do fear for your safety. I think the key message is, if you feel you're being followed, don't stop moving away from well-populated or well-lit areas until you feel certain that is not the case.
What is your advice for walking at night?
I think it's around balancing the perception of danger against taking sensible precaution to avoid becoming a victim of crime. In most places it's perfectly safe to walk late at night, but you need to be aware of the surroundings that you're in. If you are walking late at night, over a considerable distance, stick to well light main roads, ideally areas where theres CCTV at least where theres a reasonalbe flow of traffic is the overall guide. If you are going to be going considerable distance, perhaps explore the opportunity if you are going out with other people, actually coming together and getting a taxi, or a licensed mini cab to take you home.
Are men safer from street crime than women?
In terms of the proportion of people who are more likely to be victims of street crimes, men are far more likely to be victims of robbery and violence than women. In fact, in terms of personal robbery victims, around 83 percent of all victims of such crimes are actually men. In terms of violence and assault, men are significantly more at risk of being victims of such crimes than women are.
What can I do if I'm being harassed on my way home?
I think the key if you're being hassled on your way home is to try and avoid the situation escalating into something worse or different. Avoid minor behaviour, unwanted attention in the form of abuse or something like that, then just try to ignore it. However, if it does escalate to the point where you are quite concerned for your safety, if you are in a well lit or a well populated area, stay in it, or if not, try to move towards an area which is lit and there are other people. You're then likely to not become a victim of crime. I think the key really is to avoid people who are making comments at you and not rise to that challenge. That's the best course of action when being hassled.
I live in a 'nice neighbourhood'; I don't have to be that careful do I?
I think it's important that wherever you live, even if it's a nice neighbourhood, you maintain a sensible balance between not being too afraid of crime, but not being too complacent, either. You should travel around wherever you live taking a sensible precaution, showing an awareness of where you are. Don't leave your personal property openly on display so that it becomes a potential invitation for someone to try to take it from you. It's important to be safe and sensible, no matter where you are. However, you should also not be too overly afraid of where you are.
Are groups of young men vulnerable to violent crime?
Generally, in terms of violent crime that relates to assault, both the people who commit those assaults and the victims of them are young men under the age of 21. So, yes; a male who is under the age of 21, is more likely to become (statistically, anyway) a victim of an assault or violent crime. However, the principles, again, depend on precautions, such as not rising to the bait when it is reasonable not to. If you are a group, you are less likely to become a victim of crime. Most people who are a victim of an assault would either be alone or with one person. Generally, the people who committed the crimes are drunk, are cowards and would normally be in a group of people and would look to take on people who are either in a smaller group or on their own.
What should I do if someone in the street makes an aggressive homophobic comment towards me?
I think, if someone makes an aggressive homophobic comment towards you on the street, don't rise to the bait and try not to escalate the situation any more than has already happened. I think it's particularly important that you do report such an incident to the police, because we take such incidences of aggressive homophobia extremely seriously and are determined to bring people who commit such crimes to justice. We can only do that if we have people willing to tell us about such offences and help us prosecute people. We take account of the intelligence picture around the area that we're going to patrol. If we are unaware that there are homophobic incidents occurring in a particular area, then that would obviously diminish the opportunities of us being able to target our patrols to those areas.
What should I do if someone in the street makes an aggressive comment about my race?
I think the important thing here, while it's thoroughly reprehensible conduct by some body to do that, is to remain calm and try to not escalate the situation. The important thing really though is to report any racist offenses or behavior to police. We take such offenses particularly seriously and we'll do what we can to prosecute and bring justice to people who commit such offenses. Obviously, we can only do that with the support of the public so we need you to inform us of that. The other thing is that if you don't tell us, we won't necessarily be aware of the full extent of a particularly emerging problem in an area and we base how we deploy our resources around information that we get, to some extent, from the public. So, if we don't know there are racist offenses being committed in an area, then obviously we won't be posting our resources to that area to deal with that problem if we're not aware of it. I think the key is to remain calm and report it to the police as so as you can so we can do all we can do to prosecute the people who commit such awful offenses.
What can men do to avoid scaring women walking on the street at night?
I think it's very easy for men to forget the fears of a woman particularly late at night. I think it's important to show a degree of respect in terms of if you are coming up behind a woman who is on her own late at night you might need to cross over the road, but certainly give some space. Don't create the impression that you are going to attack them or give them cause for concern. Ideally cross the road but if your not going to do that at least give some space as you approach behind someone. Don't approach silently, let people know that you are coming up behind them. Don't try to mask you footsteps or anything like that. If you do overtake someone give them a bit of space as you go past. I think thats the general principle
What can I do if someone is making aggressive sexual comments at me in the street?
I would say, it is important to try and not to allow the situation to escalate. So try not to respond to to it. Equally, try not to become afraid as a result of it. I think if someone does make such a comment, it is important that the police are aware that that has happened. So if a crime is being committed or you are concerned around the behavior of somebody that it could have escalated to a crime, then report it to the police. Because, all that we do around the deployment of our resources is based upon the information that we get, part of which is from the public. So, if there is a potential issue around someone either committing or considering committing sexual offenses, we need to know about that so we can take action. So I think, overall, the answer to the question would be; remain calm and try not to let the situation escalate by responding to it. But equally, inform the police as soon as you can, if either, if a crime is taking place, or you are concerned that one could happen. So we can try and do something about it.
Will martial arts training make me safer on the streets?
I think in reality martial arts training will only make you safer on the street if you actually are an expert on it. You need to trained at a quite high standard for it to be of use to you. I think what will actually make you safer on the streets is a real understanding of the surroundings that you're in, being aware of the surroundings that you're in, and a perception of your own psyche and potential vulnerability rather than relying on a martial art as your means. To be honest, the best way of avoiding an escalated situation is through the ability to talk, remain calm, and negotiate rather than relying on some form of self-defense.
