I recently related an experience where I, a lone woman took my dog out for a last toilet at night to a grassy area at the end of my 30mph residential zone street. I live in a small town with a low crime rate.
A police vehicle with two male police officers drove by me, then followed the road round, ignoring the other streets apart from the one they used to drive up to circle round and the rest of the town at large, in order to pass me a further four times in quick succession. The last two drive bys were at a greatly reduced speed and the final drive by was at a practical crawl and it was clear they were looking at me.
It only takes me about 2-3 minutes to walk to the grassy area from my door so the first pass bys were as I walked along a short street and the final two pass bys were when I had reached the grassy area. There was no one else around on the street at the time.
I have never had a problem with the police and I don't have a problem with the police or police patrols. In general I am very pro police and patrols.
I could understand them checking me out once, twice, maybe, just maybe even three times at a push but five times did feel a little intimidating and unnecessary.
I related this story on another thread and was told if I felt intimidated I should have waved the policemen down.
Regardless of whether you would have been intimidated by this particular incident, my question is:
As a woman, in this climate with faith in the police force at an all time low by women, would you wave patrolling policemen in their down if you felt intimidated by them late at night on a quiet street with no one else around?
YABU - I would feel completely comfortable flagging down the officers in the vehicle.
YANBU - I would not feel comfortable waving down the officers in the vehicle.