What can everyone do to feel safer?

Below are some actions all colleagues can take to keep themselves safe, especially over winter.

If you are walking alone at night, stay near well-lit walkways. Avoid alleys and other poorly lit, closed spaces. Wear white, bright or high vis clothing where possible so that you are easy to see when crossing roads in the dark. You could perhaps share your location with a close contact on WhatsApp too.
Walk with a friend whenever possible. You are automatically a less desirable target if you're not alone.
Trust your instinct when parking your car. If you feel uneasy about where you've just parked, think again. If you must park further away, look for well-lit areas with a lot of people. You could also lock your car doors when stationary. If you're meeting friends, perhaps you could ask them to walk you to/from your vehicle.
When using public transport, try and plan ahead so you know your planned route and know exactly where to go when picking up/leaving the transport. Also, have the ticket/money ready and keep your purse or wallet out of sight where possible.
Be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of your surroundings and act confident and purposeful. Wearing earphones or gazing frequently at your phone may make you more of a target as you may appear to be distracted. If you see a suspicious person, cross the street or change your path to avoid them.
If you feel (or know) you are being followed. An effective way to test is to cross the street, if the person follows you across, remain calm and identify your options. If someone pulls their car over to the side of the pavement whilst you are walking alone and they try to shout you over, then don’t get too near the car to talk to them. If you feel in danger, consider approaching a stranger for assistance or scan the area for a business you can duck into. Calmly and clearly explain that you think you think someone may be following you, and you have come in because you fear for your safety and need a few minutes of refuge. If you think that you’re being followed whilst driving, then drive to a busy car park, petrol station or the closest police station if you think you are in danger.]

For more on Women's Safety, please click here.