Sexual Violence towards Women in the UK - Safety tips and advice to help keep you safe
Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment - the Reality of living in the UK
Surveys in the UK have shown that sexual harassment and sexual violence has been increasing in the last 10 years up to 2024. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that for the year ending March 2024, that 4.1% of people 16 and above had experienced rape or an attempted rape at least once.
Turning this percentage into an approximate number means a shocking 2 million people have experienced this dreadful sexual violence. This does not include sexual harassment by the way.
Harassment is categorised differently as both ‘non sexual harassment’ and ‘sexual harassment’. I will be focussing only on sexual harassment in this blog but to give you some idea of just how people are experiencing society out there in England and Wales, I have included the combined figures from survey respondents.
Of course, sexual violence and sexual harassment happens to both men and women. However, I will be writing from a women’s perspective because in terms of awareness and staying safe I have to practice these actions and habits myself but also it is women suffering from sexual abuse, sexual violence or sexual harassment that I see mostly in my Manchester and Lancashire counselling clinics.
Sexual Harassment is High Against Women
I know from both professional and personal experience that sexual harassment is quite literally, potentially, just around the corner for any woman living in England. Even with the focus on it through the ‘Me Too’ movement, still, the numbers of women experiencing sexual harassment in some form or another in England is staggering. It certainly runs counter to the myth of England as some bucolic ‘green and pleasant land’ with cream teas and English politeness, the numbers reveal quite the opposite experience for women out there in England, especially younger women.
In just the last 12 months over 22% of women aged 16-24 have experienced sexual harassment at least once in England and Wales! And 75% of these experiences took place in person.
Importantly, nearly three quarters of the harassments were perpetrated by total strangers. This means going out to crowded pubs, clubs and larger gatherings where, by their very nature, it is filled with strangers, puts women into an environment that will, statistically, expose them to a greater risk of sexual harassment or sexual violence.
I am not wishing to be alarmist but we must accept the environment we live in has all sorts of risks and, in doing so, we can take positive and proactive steps to mitigate these risks becoming a statistical reality.
I’m outlining the safety tips I practice myself to varying degrees and the advice I give to women attending my Omega Counselling practice in Manchester when it is relevant and appropriate to them. Keep reading below to learn how to stay safe and actively practice safety awareness.
Staying Safe - Practical Tips for Women’s Safety Against sexual Violence and Harassment
There are some practical actions and good socialising habits to help keep women safe and reduce the risk of experiencing sexual harassment or sexual violence. There are more insights into how to stay safer than I’ve listed below but these are the ones I believe are easy to incorporate into your daily life and become absorbed into your normal routines for going out or socialising.
Trust Your Own Instincts
It seems such an obvious statement but it is surprising how all of us, not just women, will doubt our instincts about someone or something we are doing and experiencing. This becomes especially dangerous for women as failing to take stock of what your instincts are telling you and using them to help you assess a situation can put you directly in harm’s way.
If it doesn’t feel right, it’s time to get out.
Do not worry about feeling rude, embarrassed or like you are overreacting.
Always say NO to anything you do not feel comfortable with or feel comfortable about.
If you feel the need to set a boundary, then do it early and assertively.
If it feels dangerous or edgy, do not wait to see how things play out….LEAVE.
Situational Awareness – Take Stock of Your Environment and Situation
This means, unfortunately, that we must try and be aware of the potential signs and activities that may put us in harm’s way even when we are out enjoying ourselves.
Make sure you pay attention to your environment, especially in unfamiliar places or at night. Is it well lit, are the toilets in a safe/well lit space to use, can I get separated from my friends easily, are the venue staff easy to get to etc., are there designated ‘safe spaces’ for me?
If going somewhere new, especially if alone, do some research before going there on where it is, public transport availability, ride share schemes and what the actual place is like inside – take a look at reviews in case something important is mentioned.
Drinking Alcohol – be careful about what you consume and how much you consume outside of your own controlled, known, safe spaces.
Never leave your drink unattended.
Never accept a drink from a stranger.
Watch the bar person making your drink- keep them in plain sight and if you have doubts, do not drink it.
Always take your drink directly from the bar person
Keep track of how much you consume.
Give yourself a limit before you go out.
Low alcohol drinks help keep you losing awareness
Recreational Drugs – recreational drugs like Ecstasy, Khat, Ketamine, Cocaine and Cannabis are readily available in the UK, particularly, in pubs, clubs and large entertainment venues. The advice pretty much follows the drinking alcohol guidelines but with some critically important differences and potentially dangerous differences.
o Recreational Drugs are illegal in the UK. Both to buy, accept or consume. There is a risk of being charged with a criminal offence if you are caught, unlike drinking alcohol.
o Never accept drugs from strangers, no matter the reassurances you are given about how safe it is and how sure they are what the drug is.
o Recreational drugs can kill you if not harm you both psychologically and physically. permanently.
o You don’t really know how much dose you’ve consumed, the strength of it, how long it may last, unlike drinking alcohol which you can monitor and pace the effects.
o The effects can happen much more quickly than drinking, so you can go from awareness to a complete loss of inhibitions, place and time very quickly.
o Any drug that can cause you to lose awareness of your surroundings and people will put you at risk of sexual harassment or sexual violence.
o Never take these drugs on your own, or out on your own with strangers. If you do take recreational drugs, make sure you are in a safe environment with people you know well.
More information can be found here on drugs and the harmful effects at the National Drugs Support Centre (FRANK)
Plan Ahead, Be Prepared
There’s no doubt planning ahead will take out some of the spontaneity of socialising and attending events but the more you do it, the more it becomes a habit and just part of your going out routine. It is one of the best ways of staying safe and staying out of danger.
o Inform Family & Friends – it’s always good practice to let your family and friends know where you are going and when you expect to return. Especially if travelling alone. Have family and friends on speed dial and when possible, if you feel the need to, let them know when you are leaving and how.
o Use a Safety App – if available in your country, consider using a safety app. They vary but some allow you to use the app itself in an emergency and others will track and record your whereabouts. I know this isn’t for everybody and doesn’t sound like a great way of living but most people usually forget it is at work on their behalf anyway.
o Crowded Places – be wary of attending crowd or jam-packed places. There are instances of people being injected with drugs in these situations as well as the ease in which you can be sexually assaulted or moved into isolation from your friends.
o Defensive Aids – pepper spray is illegal in the UK and is subject to the Firearms Act 1968 but there are approved products out there which can be used strictly in self-defence. For example, TiW Farb Gel Spray or Noyzie Self Defence Spray – I should add, this is not an endorsement, recommendation nor legal advice in how to use these products but typical of a permitted type of spray currently in the UK. Always check with your local police service if unsure. An emergency whistle is also a very good idea, simple, small and effective.
o Shout – make a racket and draw attention to yourself if being threatened or attacked. It’s simple but easy to forget in the moment when your mind is racing.
Transport- Getting Home – if you can, organise this before you go out. Be sure of transport timetables and service outages before leaving the place you are in. Booking a cab in advance is an excellent way of leaving somewhere directly and safely. Never hail a ride from the street. Even a cab or Uber as you can never be certain if it is an officially licenced cab/taxi/Uber driver.
o Always do your best to book a ride home through a legitimate service.
o Never sit in an empty compartment or isolated compartment on public transport
o Always sit as close to the driver as you can – keep them aware of your presence
o Always use well-lit roads if walking, preferably busy and well populated ones – avoid shortcuts and back alleys
o Walk with confidence and purpose and be aware of your surroundings
o Learn Basic Self Defence – there are plenty of short courses available for women at local council sport centres and individual businesses that will provide some basic safety self defence instruction for women. This is clearly an act of last resort but could be enough to deter your attacker.
Ask For Angela Safety Campaign
The Ask For Angela safety initiative is to create a recognised process for bar, event and venue staff to recognise someone is asking for help. If you feel endangered or anxious or need help, you simply ask a staff member for ‘Angela’.
A point of caution here though is that the scheme is not widely adopted in the UK. It certainly isn’t mandatory nor an industry standard yet. It can only work in a workplace or venue where staff have been trained and actively practice the scheme.
How It Works
It is a non-profit scheme that creates a process for venue staff to respond to people asking for assistance. The scheme works by offering staff ‘vulnerability training’ and to train staff what to do when someone asks them for ‘Angela’. For example, it could be arranging transport, moving a person to a safe space away from harm or making a direct intervention.
The Ask For Angela website is an incredible resource for learning about safety awareness, good safety habits, safety and tracking apps and emergency help. It is worth taking a bit of time to see what is available there.
https://askforangela.co.uk/advice/
Help Online for Sexual Violence, Sexual Abuse and Harassment
It is both unfortunate and disappointing that I write a blog giving this advice, I certainly do not want to be alarmist or cause alarm or fear. I do though, want people to be prepared and develop good safety awareness and socialising habits for increasing their safety when they go out to socialise.
Where can I find help more about sexual abuse and sexual violence?
There are numerous helplines and support centres out there for people that need advice or need help after being sexually harassed or experiencing a violent sexual assault. I’m including some of them here to help get you started:
Rape Crisis helpline https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/
The Survivors Trust https://thesurvivorstrust.org/meet-the-team/
Victim Support https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/how-we-can-help/
24/7 Sexual Abuse Support https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk/
Omega Counselling in Manchester, Wigan and Standish
Of course, we also provide professional person-centred counselling at our Lancashire and Manchester clinics for people experiencing or suffering from the effects of sexual harassment, sexual violence and abuse.
We provide a safe, discreet, and calm space for you to discuss any issues you are experiencing.
If you are wondering, ‘is counselling is for you’, then reach out to us and we can advise you or help you look at other options that may be better suited to you.
Reaching out is free, you are under no obligation to continue speaking with us, there is no pressure.
We also offer a free 45 minute consultation so you can get to know us and see if we are the right professional counselling for you, the right ‘fit’ to help you improve your life.
We are committed to helping people move forward with their lives whether it is with Omega Counselling or some other service.
If you would like to see our feedback, then look here