Police advising women not to walk alone at night

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

I’ve seen a lot of friends outraged at the Met police locally advising women not to walk alone at night in the days following the disappearance of Sarah Everard. I’ve seen a posts along the lines of ‘how about telling men not to attack women instead?’

I absolutely agree with the wider point that we should be asking the question “how do we make it safe for women?” not “how do women stay out of danger?”

But in this case, was the police’s advice not just the equivalent of advising people to stay out of the water following a shark attack?

I’m so upset and angry about Sarah Everard but I cannot get incensed about the police advising women to take precautions when an unknown attacker may have still been in the area.

Isn't this the consequence of men being able to access graphic and violent porn for free, 24/7?

I cannot find a single statement from the Met Police advising women in Clapham area to stay in.

I can find plenty of press reports which seem to be based on individual officers giving advice to several individual women in the course of their door to door, and of course there's no explanation of the context in which they said it - for example were they responding to queries rooted in the very real local worries that he could strike again. Aim off for press magnifying this

There is only so much police can do when asked that sort of question.

I think we need to separate out the advice that might be said individually when there are fears that there is violent random attacker is in the area, and what police do more widely, and what needs to be done further

If it was as simple as telling them not to rape it wouldn't be happening repeatedly.
I have no words to describe how sorry I am for Sarah and her family. 😢

Even in the borough of Westminster, 99% of all crime is committed by someone you know.

However, during the Krays era women could walk around the east end at any time of the night or morning, alone, because men were too scared to attack women on their patch. Perhaps the fear of what a gangster will do is the only thing that will put a cowardly attacker off attacking a woman?

To be fair, my local police superintendent (in the Met) put out a statement which specifically says that women should not have to change their behaviour because of men and it's their job to make sure that any inappropriate behaviour is dealt with. I was very pleasantly surprised.

Women are more likely to be attacked by someone they know. Men are more likely to be attacked/mugged in the street by random strangers.

We should NOT curfew men. What about those who are travelling to and from work? Those who need to go to the shops or appointments after they finish work? Most men don’t attack people. Very dystopian to have curfews.

Also, a woman in her 30s has been arrested “on suspicion of assisting an offender.” Women aren’t innocent either.

I think a lot of people are underestimating how many outwardly respectable and decent men are busy abusing and raping women behind closed doors.

Could the advice be because they're concerned other people (mainly men) who have been thinking about abducting someone (mainly women) might act on it in light of the extensive (and absolutely necessary) media coverage of the case?

No. It's because they think the person has done it before and may do it again.

Men Stay At Home or Have A Good Reason To Be Out

That is the current situation

@FortunesFave

Could the advice be because they're concerned other people (mainly men) who have been thinking about abducting someone (mainly women) might act on it in light of the extensive (and absolutely necessary) media coverage of the case?

No. It's because they think the person has done it before and may do it again.

What person? They have arrested the person they believe is responsible.

@missbridgerton

Isn't this the consequence of men being able to access graphic and violent porn for free, 24/7?

One of them...but violent killers have been around for much longer than that I'm afraid.

But 'assisting an offender' doesn't necessarily mean helping to abduct and kill. It could mean disposing if evidence/ lying for them couldn't it?

@Doris86 but it's fine to expect all woman to modify their behaviour and live in fear? Unless men wake up and look around them at the threat women live with daily, nothing will ever change and society will continue to blame women for the violence enacted upon them.

@Doris86

Curfew for men after 6pm? What a ridiculous suggestion. Impacting the civil liberties of the 99.999% of law abiding men. Meanwhile the 0.001% of men intent on attacking women wouldn’t let a curfew stop them.

Exactly, which would make the streets more dangerous for women because there would be fewer people around. Especially if we keep the police off streets as some have suggested here!

Like, I get the sentiment, but what would the average, law-abiding male actually be spurred into doing that he currently doesn't do to stop men attacking women?

Starting right at the beginning, about things that are seen as a laugh or just a bit of fun, pulling up mates and educating their sons on their attitudes and behaviours towards women way before it gets to the rape and murder stage.
Making it clear that other men do not support, or turn a blind eye towards this kind of behaviour, no matter how 'minor'.
That these 'minor' incidents are as abhorrent to other men as they are women.

@PicsInRed

Better recent evidence suggests it's policemen who shouldn't walk alone at night lest they abduct and murder a woman.

The police have said they're investigating the possibility that the suspect used covid law to detain Sarah.

If that's true - especially given how women sitting on benches and taking coffee walks with friends were frequently detained (in public) for a stern chat and a fine, and considering how little fuck they have to give about rape and domestic violence victims - I couldn't be less interested in anything they have to say ever again.

The women from Ashby were taking the piss.

The other stuff (how few fucks the police give about rape, domestic violence [and I'll add historic abuse, because I've seen too many reports of that to *not ad it..]). I agree.

This is why so many people don't trust the police. Why would they?

Victim blaming isn’t helpful, it’s as if they are saying the poor woman deserved it for being alone whilst walking at night. Maybe it would make sense for the police to have more bobbies on beat than victim blame.

It was the only sensible thing to do. They knew it was likely there was a dangerous man out there who hadn't yet been caught. Common sense must be applied to keeping safe.

Also, no curfew for women either. Just stick to lit paths.

And it's not just at night though, is it? Dh will run in places I'm scared to go. Police still haven't caught the bloke who attacked a lone female runner back in the early autumn. She ran in the morning. On the main route. In twitchy every time I run there, but am comforted by the fact it's 30mph so I could run into the road and risk being clipped by a car if I needed to.

Dh has never had to think like this.

[quote Scubalubs87]@Doris86 but it's fine to expect all woman to modify their behaviour and live in fear? Unless men wake up and look around them at the threat women live with daily, nothing will ever change and society will continue to blame women for the violence enacted upon them.[/quote]
Did I say women should modify their behaviour and live in fear?

Many of us have probably been doing this for years, or at least trying to - obviously in winter months it's dark early and there have been attacks on women in broad daylight too.

This all hits so close to home and has always been something I've feared walking home alone when it's dark.

But what's the alternative advice? Telling potential criminals to not commit crimes is clearly not going to work.

Is the police officer supposed to have been known to Sarah? I don’t know the details and can’t find much info. That poor woman and her family.

@CuteBear

Also, no curfew for women either. Just stick to lit paths.

How will keeping to lit paths keep women safe?

Ask your teenage girls about what they're expected to put with in school in the name of 'banter ' from teenage boys. About the misogyny that is never that far from the surface. About the complete lack of respect many boys from many areas have for female teachers.