Written submission from a member of the public (SPP0073)
On [date], a man unknown to me approached me from behind as I walked down a street in Central [location] and groped my bottom. I had been celebrating my birthday and left a bar with my boyfriend by my side. I was not vulnerable in that moment as I was not alone. Luckily, due to the help of others around me, we managed to detain the man until the police arrived. He was subsequently arrested and I was thankful that the police seemed to take this seriously, arresting him for the suspicion of sexual assault. I went to the station, gave my statement, and handed over my clothing as evidence, so they could test for DNA where he had touched me inappropriately.
A few weeks passed and the police got in touch to say the investigation had been closed. DNA testing was too expensive, there was no CCTV in the streets and the case just didn't have potential to make it to court. I was devastated. After coming so close to this man actually being punished for his actions, my worst fears came true. He would walk away and probably do the same again; maybe to someone more vulnerable than me, younger, walking alone or perhaps he would take things a step further next time. Since, from coming face-to-face with this man, he really did not think what he had done was unacceptable.
However, my story does not just end there. This incident was in fact the third time I had experienced street harassment since living in [location]. None of these situations have any similarities, but the fact that none of the men were ever punished or held accountable for their actions.
In [date], I was on a night bus on my way back from work, following a late shift at the restaurant I was working at. The man sat next to me got his penis out and was masturbating in front of me. I ran straight over to the bus driver, but by the time he understood what I was telling him, the man had run off the bus. I was looked at as if I was mad, or drunk, and he carried on driving. The handful of others on the bus did not pay any attention either. When I reported this to the police, they said the CCTV on the bus did not work and the case was swiftly closed.
In [date], I was followed to work by a man, verbally harassed, grabbed by the arms and kissed on the hands. This was 8.30am in the morning in Central [location] and nobody stopped to help, despite my panicked shouts telling the man to get off me. I went to the local police station, but they spent more time trying to classify the crime than actually looking for him. After much deliberation, it was logged as ‘harassment’, instead of assault or sexual harassment; because of the body part he touched and kissed was not sexual. They implied this was considered less serious and would be lower on their priority list. I left the police station feeling stupid for even reporting it. Nothing came of this, even though I had found CCTV at a local café of the man, and the case was closed.
After the first incident on the bus, I was petrified to sit anywhere near the back and chose the single seat at the front whenever possible. By [date], I became terrified to walk down the street. Anyone walking behind me made me so nervous that I would cross over the road. I changed my route to work and avoided particular roads. From my most recent experiences this year, I am just angry and feel massively let down.
Victims of street harassment, like myself, are forced to change their daily routine and lose a part of their independence. This simply becomes a part of life that you have to accept. In my experiences, nothing even comes from reporting such crimes to the police. I have never even been put in touch with victim support, which surely should be the most basic response to such reports, even when investigating them further is not an option. Something must change – we need clearer laws on street harassment, more awareness amongst the public, more support for victims and a shift in attitudes towards such crimes.
I hope a positive change comes from your inquiry so people like me can feel empowered to come forward and feel confident that they will be taken seriously, action will be taken and support will be more accessible.