Keep Safe This Festive Period
Christmas is a time for going out with friends, drinking with work colleagues and attending numerous parties and get togethers. But it's also unfortunately a time where the amount of rape and sexual offences against women goes on the rise.
We all become vulnerable when we've been drinking too much, and during this period we do tend to overindulge and not know our own limits. Following on from Greater Manchester Police's Rape Awareness campaign, FemaleFirst spoke to Superintendent Phil Owen about keeping safe this Christmas.
So what does he recommend to women who are going out this party season to have fun, but also want to return home safe without incident?
"Well, I think there is a general message about knowing your own limits with alcohol. Experience tells us that unfortunately over the Christmas period we do see an increase in the reporting of rape and serious sexual assaults against women, now some of those they feature in the amount of alcohol the victim has consumed."
"I would say that at the outset the paramount thing to stress is that we're not blaming victim here, if you get drunk and you get raped it's your fault, we're not saying that at all, but we are saying that if you're going to go out in a group then it's important that you say safe."
Staying safe is usually not top of our priority list on a night out, but how can we do this and still have a good time?
"There are a few simple things to follow. Firstly is to know your limits and secondly is to stay together in a group and if one of your party, you know a girl in your group who is maybe not used to drinking alcohol gets inebriated, it's important that you look after her."
"We do occasionally see lone females getting separated from the group and wondering off and they are very vulnerable then. It's about the vulnerability issue, so stay safe and make sure you know how you're going to get home at the end of the night."
If we're being honest though, that's not usually our priority until the end of a night. Sorting out a party dress, sure and deciding what will be your drink of the night- definitely, but getting home never really crosses our mind until the clubs start to kick people out.
Superintendent Owen agrees: "Very often people think 'I'll get round to it, whether it's the last bus or train and if they are going to make provisions to get home by a taxi, make sure you've got enough money. Also it's worth noting there are some unscrupulous people out there that report to be licensed taxi drivers and they're not. It's important that they get proper cabs and that they book it in advance and they go to proper ranks and get taxis home."
But during these credit crunching times, surely we're all trying to cut back on our expenditure and a taxi would be top of that list wouldn't it on a night out? Surely people would rather spend it on drinking, or would they?
"Well, invariably you are going to pay more for those kind of taxis, but it's important that there is some safety messages around and they are licensed, they are registered and they are safe. They will get you right to your front door, and if you do get a taxi home, I know its temptation to be dropped off on the main road and walk the last half mile, but we would say get it to drop you to your door."
So with alcohol being primarily targeted as the main reason for our vulnerability around the festive period, does Superintendent Owen think we should limit our intake or be more careful?
"No, I think it's really worth while for people to stick and work together on a night out. It's about sensible drinking and you know we're not trying to stop people drinking, but at this time of year they do drink to excess, but you know we're not joy killers, if you are going to drink to excess then just take some sensible precautions."
With this in mind, what does he think all women should have in their party bag as essentials?
"They can if they wish to do so from public protection units get the rape awareness alarms, you can get them through Crime reduction advisors, so most police stations will have one and they will have access to the attack alarms."
"They omit a high-pitched noise and sometimes they can be a comfort blanket to women who are out and about, and blokes as well come to that. Clearly though if you're going to go out on a night out, don't take all your credit cards with you, it's important to take just what you need for that night because again if you are out and about, there are pick pockets around.The message as always is to stick together."