Jogging, Parking and Shopping – WalkSafe reveals where violent attacks happen
| 7th March 2022
WalkSafe has revealed people are most likely to be sexually or violently attacked outside the home when parking, exercising or shopping.
The leading women’s safety app announced its findings as co-founder Emma Kay is set to host a debate on what more can be done to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls on International Women’s Day (Tuesday March 8).
WalkSafe is focusing on attacks outside the home where its app is used and revealed there were a staggering 228,492 reports of sexual and violent offences in public places in England and Wales in 2021, which increased throughout the year as lockdown eased.
Although the police verified crime statistics which the findings are based on aren’t broken down by gender to protect anonymity, the majority of sexual attacks are reported by women.
Said Emma: “It’s a total misconception to think attacks in public are rare as these police verified reports show and they also show car parks, recreation areas and supermarkets account for 49% of those attacks in public places.
“It’s horrific to think that these attacks are happening as women are parking, jogging or doing the shopping.
“We also know because women are reluctant to report such attacks, these shocking figures are the tip of the iceberg. That’s why we feel it’s so important to shine a light on what is happening outside the home and how WalkSafe can help women and girls lead the lives they deserve.”
Released to mark International Women’s Day and ‘Women Leading the Change 2022’ event, hosted by WalkSafe to discuss women’s safety, the figures show parking is the most dangerous place, accounting for 20% of public sex and violent street crimes.
The second most dangerous places are on or near sports and recreation areas accounting for 15%, followed closely by supermarkets at 14%.
WalkSafe, which has been downloaded over half a million times since the death of Sarah Everard in March 20021, findings show the number of public sexual and violent crimes has increased throughout 2021 and by the final quarter, was 50% higher than the start of the year.
Added Emma said: “It’s appalling there were 228,492 violent and sexual public attacks in 2021, including the horrific and high-profile murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.
“I always say WalkSafe is the app shouldn’t have to exist but thank God we do and can help women and others walk the streets in safety. We are the only app created by women for women and following a £300K cash boost from Fearless Adventures, we are delighted we can continue to develop WalkSafe further, keeping it free.”
In March 2021 there were 16,645 attacks reported in public places, including the murder of Sarah Everard on March 3 and in September 2021, 21,095 violent and sexual street offences, including teacher Sabina Nessa murder on September 17.
In 2021, England and Wales were in lockdown until April 12 when restrictions started to lift and most restrictions fully lifted by July 19, 2021, which WalkSafe analysts believe led to fewer attacks at the start of the year.
WalkSafe co-founder Emma Kay
The number of attacks increased in each quarter of 2021:
- Q1 street sex and violent offences 2021: January, February, March 42,891
- Q2 street sex and violent offences 2021: April, May, June 58,369
- Q3 street sex and violent offences 2021: July, August, September 62,806
- Q4 street sex and violent offences 2021: October, November, December 64,426
WalkSafe alerts safety contacts if users do not arrive home at the expected time and is the only safety app to have a live map which shows where crimes (based on the most recent police authority figures have occurred). That empowers women to choose a safer route home.
It also has a tap feature, TapSafe, if women feel threatened which alerts their chosen safety contact which was been activated over 20,000 times in the last six months.
There is also a ‘dead’ switch which send alerts if the tapping suddenly stops, giving a precise last-known location that the police can then use should the user be abducted.
It can be downloaded for free on Apple and Android www.walksafe.io
“Because women have created WalkSafe its features are intuitively what women want and that’s why we have over half a million users. For example, we don’t use external tracking like other apps, instead users choose who their safety circle is and can change that whenever they want,” said Emma.
“Giving a last known location should a woman be abducted or attacked can also provide lifesaving information to police. As a woman, I don’t think women should have to take these precautions, but it is about using the latest technology to empower us. It’s the modern equivalent of giving three rings when you get home and we are also committed to ensuring it remains free for women to download.”