to walk in a country park at 8:30-10pm on my own?

[danniegrace]

dh annoyed at this suggestion by me and said he will be really annoyed if i do it as he will worry the whole time. we have a pretty high energy dog and the best time for his longer walk is simply in the evening time, dog is with me all day but i am a carer for a relative so with them all day, dh does take dog out in the morning but he needs another walk again in the evening and i just prefer somewhere than a pavement walk or small park... i am a fully grown woman in my late 20s. i know this sounds weird but there has been absolutely no crimes there that have come up in any sort of news, at all, not even over a decade ago, its a rather open country park vs very woodlandy. would you do it?

Stole this quote from another thread, which reminded me of this thread:

Another thing to consider is that criminals such as burglars are much more forensically aware now. They know how the system works (or their solicitor does) and can always give cast tight alibis all the time.

I think this is why I feel more afraid of being alone in secluded areas like huge country parks. It’s harder to get away with murder or violence offences in a built up area due to the digital footprint and forensic opportunities. There is more opportunity to gather evidence for the police. Criminals have to think of things like cell towers, ANPR cameras, doorbell cameras/dash cams, witnesses recording on their phones etc. Whereas I assume attacking someone in a park gives more anonymity - they can attack someone privately and leave the person there. In built up areas they will have to conceal the crime.

8.30-10 the streets will still be busy with people and vehicles but I’m guessing the country park would be quite deserted? I’d be more worried someone would see you and follow you or know your routine and wait for you than just be randomly waiting in the park to attack. If you stumbled in the dark you’d also find it pretty difficult to get home. Personally I wouldn’t do it and wouldn’t expect my partner to take needless risks although ultimately it is your decision

I read a statement that really stuck with me (can't recall where and I might be paraphrasing slightly)

Not even man is a potential threat
But every woman is a potential victim

It made me rethink a lot of my decisions regarding my personal safety so on that basis, no I wouldn't walk alone at night in a park

There are things I’d do when I was younger walking a big, visibly aggressive (to other dogs) German shepherd dog that I wouldn’t do now walking a friendly looking cocker spaniel. People crossed the road to avoid us then.

but I still think it unlikely I’d walk through a country park regularly. I took decisions when I regularly walked home a couple of miles from places to take the longer urban route rather than the shortcuts in more lovely places.

This 👆

Statistically, you are more likely to be murdered by your husband unfortunately, although there are other types of attack which are equally unpalatable.

In your position, I would take a decent torch, and maybe carry one of those spray things. I walk my dog in the park at night and also used to walk home through the park from the train station. I didn't feel especially comfortable despite being male (and not normally a nervous one either). Just be as aware as you can. I actually quite enjoy it now although walking into a deer one evening gave me the heebie-jeebies. I'm not sure who was the most surprised in that moment.

Isn’t that largely if not wholly because most women avoid walking in isolated places like country parks after dark? Therefore there aren’t many women to find there. That’s women’s behaviour reducing the stats, it doesn’t tell us anything about men’s behaviours or risk.

Its awful that women need to think this way but it is realistic.

It only takes one man looking for an opportunity. I agree about the risk of being noticed and followed, especially on a nightly walk. Men who would attack a woman in daylight would surely prefer an opportunity where he is less likely to be seen or disturbed.

There’s also dogging and the like which is pretty common and must add to the risk. Grim.

It’s also a lot of stress for your partner. It’s shit, really shit but better safe than sorry.

I would be very surprised a teenager just feels like going for a walk even with a dog for no reason whatsoever so I would assume they would not be alone, be quicker to ask who they are meeting

Yeah, I would if I had my dog with me.

But I'm a dog walker and spend all day outside alone in isolated places - often with no phone signal (we live rurally).

I feel more at risk walking through town at night than I do anywhere else.

I would do it, the risks really are so tiny that I wouldn’t restrict myself because of them.

I run a lot in the dark (usually early mornings though). I take sensible measures - no music, tracker on, varied routes etc but not to do so would mean I couldn’t do the things I choose (long distance/marathon training) as I wouldn’t have the opportunity at other times (which statistically aren’t necessarily safer anyway) and I’m not going to let a tiny threat stop me doing the things I enjoy and that are good for me.

Sadly this has reminded me of the Rachel Nickell murder on Wimbledon Common whilst walking her dog.

That was in the morning and she was with her child. Would you avoid walking with your children somewhere secluded in the day time due to the minuscule chance of this happening?

There’s also dogging and the like which is pretty common and must add to the risk. Grim.

I'm pretty sure it's easy enough to avoid dogging areas. They're not so common you just come across them in country parks, are they?

But as PP said, that wasn't late at night and she wasn't on her own.

A lot of the crimes everyone is referring to are of course horrific, but most of them took place in daylight

Are you really suggesting that we don't walk anywhere alone ever, just in case?

I do. Always used to when I had a dog as they needed a late night walk

You say that like it is ab absolute fact. It really isn't. The chances are still vanishingly low even if OP walked the same routine every day for the rest of her life.
It really doesn't help to out comments like that up as if they are definitely going to happen.

No way.

And it annoys me just as much as it annoys you OP!

I follow a walking organisation called 'Slow Ways', who are creating off-street walks between towns and villages. They are still testing all the walks with volunteer walkers - something I'd love to do. But I know it just wouldn't be safe enough for a lone woman, and clearly other women feel the same. Because so far, all the testers I've seen have been men.

I wouldn't as I'd feel too scared but I think you should if you want to.

Can you take some form of protection?

i agree doesnt seem like a country park is the ideal place for a rapist to hang about just hoping some woman comes about

I'd worry that someone would spot you out at the same time every day and you could be followed but maybe that's just my overthinking brain.

I'd do it, but definitely have a head torch just in case. You'd be surprised just how dark wooded areas can be unless there's a perfectly clear night.

I do a fair bit of late walking myself, the chances of a weirdo hanging around an empty forest vs a weirdo down a side street or in an urban park are massively different.

I take a head torch because it's better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it. Especially if you're on poop duty! I also never walk with headphones at night - just be aware of what's going on around you.

My husband hates me walking out late too, but I refuse to be cowed because I'm female. It's the best time of day for walking, quiet and peaceful.

at least carry self defense items with you

The question for me here is not whether you should do it or not. You are clearly not afraid- but your partner is.
You don't want him to worry about you while he's at work. My husband would have the same reaction to this. You have to respect how they feel - if the situation was reversed, you would want that too.

OP's partner has to respect that she's an adult and ultimately, it is her decision.

Working in this area, @shitt is right about forensics awareness. It's always been common, and in reviewing a case it's one of the factors in case linkage, since the approach/technique/act typically follows a script and it may (or may not) show forensics awareness. Another good comment earlier with respect to known areas, where these people operate, chillingly its referred to as a hunting ground.

What this thread does clearly show is the level of violence against women, and I always think UK is one of the better areas of the world. (The stats are debatable, but for example) next time you're out with a small group of friends look around a know that statistically 1 in 5 has been raped, mostly by someone known to them. When you're in a larger group of 100 at a party, look around and think 3 or 4 or 5 have been victims of strangers.

We have to go on living our lives. I should be numb to all this by this stage, instead I get increasingly angry. Things should and could be much better for us, and our daughters.

Meh, me I'd do it, I regularly run in the dark in winter, or very early in the morning in Summer.
I'd get a chest light rather than headlight, just find they don't Bob about so much and make it easier to see further distances. Let someone know what route you're taking, download What3words and if your phone or watch has a safety feature where it recognises that you've fallen it sends an alarm call then activate that.

I refuse to allow myself to be curtailed by the what ifs, and think about it, in a few short months it's going to be dark by 5pm.

You're far, far, far more likely to be assaulted in a park in the daytime that at nighttime.

So people saying they avoid walking at night but are fine walking in parks during the daytime don't have good risk awareness.

It feels more dangerous but it's not.

Stranger rape is extremely rare. The chance of a man lurking in a park at night crossing his fingers that a lone woman decides to walk in that park at night is just... it's more likely that you'll be struck by lighting, or a piece of plane falls out of the sky and bonks you on the head.

Wow! So you can do whatever you want in the relationship because you are an adult? That's a strange thing to say but whatever.
Seems to me the "I am an independent woman" attitude overtook common sense.