Reclaim the Streets

I don’t know any woman who doesn’t fear for her safety as part of daily life
We consider routes, wearing headphones, cab registrations, street lights, parking car by day and how to walk to it at night, keys in hand just in case etc..
Victims are not the problem! #SarahEverard

— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) March 10, 2021

Men have also taken to social media to express solidarity and ask what actions they can take as allies to make women feel less threatened.

We've been reflecting on the experiences of our members who work at night and have no choice but to travel home alone, on foot or on public transport. Employers and engagers will rarely cover the cost of a taxi, which could reduce risk though not remove it altogether. We know that some individuals will go beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of others, but that is not enough. More needs to be done to make sure no-one feels unsafe.

The MU supports the TUC’s statement demanding safety, justice and equality, and that Ministers must take urgent action.

I’ve been followed home too many times to count. Once I had to hide in a bush for over an hour until two men gave up looking for me. I could hear them plotting explicitly what they were going to do to me and laughing. The solution starts with respecting women.

— Nadine Shah (@nadineshah) March 11, 2021

What can we do to make our members feel safer travelling home at night?

If any members would like to share their experiences and make suggestions for our work, please get in touch via safespace@theMU.org.

The MU will also be hosting a special meeting of the Women Members Network chaired by MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl to talk about what more the MU can do to ensure women’s safety and practical measures that the MU can take to employers and engagers. Sign up to our Women Members Network to find out more.

I was chased home by a man wearing blue plastic gloves and when the police officers came to receive my report they said "we use those gloves, I hope he wasn't a police officer". After that I avoided walking home at night alone for years, which isn't easy.

— Naomi Pohl (@NaomiPohl) March 11, 2021

We don’t know true scale of violence and harassment women face on our streets because it is underreported, to know whether it is ‘thankfully rare’. It’s time all police force’s treated women as equally worthy of protection and started recording hate we face #MisogynyAsHateCrime

— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) March 10, 2021

Covid safe, socially distanced vigils for Sarah Everard and all women threatened while walking home are being held across the UK on Saturday 13 March. Find one near you, or how to get involved from home, via Reclaim the Streets on Facebook and Twitter.