Women’s safety a ‘national emergency’ with more than 80 per cent feeling unsafe walking in the dark

The survey, which interviewed 1,232 young adults, highlights concern about women’s safety on UK streets.

Niamh, 20, a hospitality worker, described the fear of being chased by a man while walking home at night: “I had to run for about five minutes, which felt like a lifetime. It’s the worst thing you can imagine happening, and when you realise that it happens, it’s horrible.”

She continued, “I think it is just that shock and just adrenaline and, you know, instincts or whatever take over because you’re just fearing for your life. It’s awful. I think anyone that’s been in that position can say the same.”

Niamh’s concerns extend beyond night-time. She recalled another incident in broad daylight: “I was alone and a stranger attacked me and there was nobody around… He tried to rape me, and the only reason that I managed to get away is because I fought him off, which was also horribly traumatic.”

Jess Phillips, the newly appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims and Safeguarding, addressed these issues in her first interview since taking on the role.

She said: “The reality is, this government considers violence against women and girls to be a national emergency. A national emergency needs systematic change, not just paying lip service when something bad happens.”

Ms Phillips expressed the need for urgent action, saying: “I really wish that I could say that it did [shock me]… I actually expected it to be that more women felt unsafe in the dark if I’m perfectly honest.”

To understand the everyday challenges women face, ITV News sent an undercover reporter out in Cardiff on a busy Friday night. Over the course of two hours, she was approached 20 times. Many encounters involved catcalling, harassment, and persistent unwanted attention.

Only one man offered to help her and despite asking most of the men to leave her alone, many continued to follow her, highlighting ongoing concerns about respect and safety.

In response to these findings, Ms Phillips reiterated the Government’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, pledging to halve instances within the next decade. This will involve preventive measures through education and awareness, focusing on relationship and respect education in schools, and a robust approach to prosecuting perpetrators.

Ms Phillips shared her vision, stating: “What it makes me feel is urgent and desperate to make it so that the very first time that Niamh comes forward and suffers, that services and systems are in place for her. But more so that we need to be moving every single mountain that we can to ensure that we stop the perpetration of that abuse. This is not something that should just be women’s responsibility about where they can and can’t go.”

Professor Jackie Tapley from the University of Portsmouth discussed the broader issue of male violence against women and the societal narrative that places the onus on women to protect themselves.

“In the 21st century, why aren’t we changing that narrative to: Why did he attack her? Why are men violent against women?” she questioned.

The murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 brought this issue to the forefront. However, as Niamh’s and many other women’s experiences illustrate, this is not a new problem. Women have been navigating these dangers for years, often altering their behaviour and routines to stay safe.

The new Government has promised to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls. Preliminary analysis by Women in Data shows that 70 per cent of women in the UK have experienced harassment or a crime incident in the last three years.

ITV News, in collaboration with market research consultancy Savanta, conducted the survey between April 9 and 12, 2024.

Courtesy of ITV News