Although night generally feels less safe of a time for most people anyway, data from the government’s ‘End Violence Against Women’ campaign, released in 2021, found that 1 in 2 women felt unsafe walking in unlit spaces, compared to 1 in 7 men, and that 2 out of 3 women aged 16 to 34 had experienced a form of sexual harassment when walking alone in the past year. It's no surprise then, that conversations about how to get home safe alone are an integral part of women’s lives and ‘let me know when you’re home’ messages are so important between friends.
Although it is important to recognise that feeling unsafe in the dark is not the fault of women, and instead part of a wider culture of violence and misogyny, there are some extra steps you can take to protect yourself in the dark. These include trying to walk in busier areas that are well lit with street-lamps, talking to someone on the phone or arranging a halfway point to meet, and carrying an alarm with you so that you can draw attention to yourself if needed. After the deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, many women reached out to men online and communicated how they can also help women feel safe, including walking ahead of women rather than behind them and calling out other men’s inappropriate behaviour.
If you want to find out more information about staying safe at night you can also follow @womensstreetwatchncl on Instagram, who can also be found on street patrol in Newcastle at night, helping everyone stay safe and providing assistance when needed.