What’s our line…

See below for Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s opinion on a number of personal safety issues.

A Review of the Protection from Harassment Act (1997)

Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the National Stalking Helpline have issued the following statement regarding a review of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997:

The time has now come for the Protection from Harassment Act (1997) to be reviewed. The Act has now been in force for over 12 years and it has become increasingly evident that there are a number of problems with its effects and implementation. In particular, we are concerned that a law which was originally intended to prevent stalking has been used against a large number of social nuisances and irritations ranging from animal rights activists to irritating neighbours. The result has been to devalue the importance of stalking, which is a pernicious crime which often has very serious effects on its victims. We are also concerned that the Police, CPS and the courts often do not take stalking as seriously as they should.

Our specific recommendations for change are as follows:

The maximum sentence for an offence of harassment under section 2 of the Act should be increased from the current maximum of 6 months imprisonment. This would have the effect of making this crime triable in either the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. As a result, the Police, CPS and the courts would be likely to accord to this crime the seriousness its victims feel it deserves.
The sentencing guidelines for breach of restraining orders under sections 5 and 5A of the Act ought to require a court to begin by considering a sentence of imprisonment instead of the community penalties which they currently recommend. For most stalking victims the conviction of ‘their’ stalker and the imposition of a restraining order is the culmination of a long period of stalking. Victims often see the stalker’s subsequent breach of that restraining order and the imposition of what they see as a light sentence as an abdication of the court’s responsibility to protect them. In those circumstances, whilst we do not advocate all such stalkers being sent to prison, the courts ought to begin from a position that they will be.
The Police should have increased powers of seizure so that they can more easily collect evidence in relation to offences under the Act.
It is very important for there to be a multi-agency approach to stalking of type used in relation to crimes such as domestic violence and sexual offences.
Psychiatric reports should be made mandatory for perpetrators awaiting trial. Many – indeed some would say most – stalkers suffer from mental disorders and so need treatment as much as punishment.
We would also welcome a rehabilitation programme for perpetrators to reduce repeat offending.
We also support the need to link these crimes to other key areas including sexual offences, domestic violence, honour-based violence, burglary, death threats, criminal damage and wasting police time so that, as crimes, they are not viewed independently of one another.
We would welcome more research the impact of the Act and what should constitute aggravating or mitigating features of stalking
Overall, we remain concerned, as we have long been, over the way in which the current legislation is used and enforced by the Police, the CPS and the courts. The plain fact is that too many victims feel ignored or let down by the legal system over the way in which their predicament is viewed. Time after time we hear from victims who feel that the stalking they have experienced has been diminished in the eyes of the Police, the CPS or the courts.
Even if there is no legislative change, more needs to be done to promote understanding of the current Act as well as further research better to inform a review of that Act (or a replacement) in the future.

Justice Secretary’s Comments Regarding Rape, May 18 2011

Suzy Lamplugh Trust is concerned about some of the comments made by the Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke QC on BBC Radio 5 live on 18^th May 2011.

Rape is a very serious crime. It affect all of its victims, many very seriously, both physically and psychologically. For most victims distinctions between supposed categories of rape don’t reflect the experience they have endured.

Only 6 out of every 100 rapes are reported to the Police. That is something which should concern us all. It means, of course, that most victims suffer in silence because they are unwilling to report the crime, often because they think that they will not be believed either by the Police or by the courts or that, even if they are believed, the perpetrator will not receive proper, appropriate punishment.

We are concerned that the Justice Secretary’s comments yesterday may further undermine the confidence that rape victims have in the legal system. If, on the basis of those comments, the Police and the courts are seen to be making distinctions between types of rape victims may well be even less willing in the future to report the crime. That would lead to more rapists going free and even more victims suffering in silence.

Crime Maps

Suzy Lamplugh Trust are unclear as to the benefits of the new Crime Maps. Whilst we can clearly see the cons: e.g. the possibility of increasing the fear of crime in the high recorded crime areas and increasing complacency in low recorded crime areas; giving valuable information to criminals; affecting the cost of property in individual areas and so on.., we are finding it hard to see the pros.

The maps are being promoted as a measure that will help to balance the police cuts and make individual police forces more accountable to their local residents but it is hard to see how this will work in practice. If a resident is not happy about the crime in their area and makes a complaint, what will happen then? If their local police force were unable to keep crime down previously, how can residents trust that they are going to improve this situation in the future with less manpower following the cuts? We think these and other questions regarding the validity of these much publicized maps need to be answered before the Trust and the public in general will see a point to them.

Police Cuts

Suzy Lamplugh Trust are concerned about how the police cuts will affect public safety and the possible impact this will have on crime levels. We are unconvinced by the argument that cuts will not necessitate the reduction in the number of frontline officers on the street in many forces and also fear the cuts that will be made to the administration/’backroom’ staff. These staff are the ‘engine’ that allow the frontline officers to operate efficiently and effectively. We would be interested to know how the Government are going to cut this valuable resource without adversely affecting the forces’ ability to reduce and solve crime.

Street Lighting

Suzy Lamplugh Trust are concerned at the growing trend within local authorities to save money by cutting down on street lighting. Whilst we understand that cuts are being made across many areas, we believe that lack of street lighting can increase the risks to the public’s safety because – put simply – the harder it is for someone to see danger approaching, the harder it is for them to avoid it.

In the majority of cases, the lights are ‘only’ being switched off from approx midnight to 5am but that still affects a great number of people coming home from a night out and the many thousands of employees who work shifts . The Trust believe these people have as much right to safety as anybody out on the street during the day or early evening.

Bystander Intervention

Much has been said and written about whether or not bystanders should get involved if they see someone else being physically assaulted. Suzy Lamplugh Trust understands that whilst not getting involved is clearly the safest option, many people may feel the need to do something but are not sure what. It’s important to recognise that no one course of action is correct; each situation is different and bystanders should try to weigh up potential risk before they take any action.

This simply means making an immediate assessment of the situation and deciding how dangerous it could be to get physically involved, weighed against how effective their help would be. In some cases, the attention and the appearance of potential witnesses would be enough to deter the attacker.

If a bystander can attempt to make a risk assessment and realises that by intervening they will be putting themselves at significant risk, they can at least then make a clearer decision as to what action to take, as opposed to jumping in without thinking.

Which Gender is Most at Risk of Violence?

Statistically young adults (16 – 24 years) are the most at risk group in society. Of those, young males are approximately twice as likely to suffer from ‘stranger’ violence as young females. The majority of stranger violence is centred around the night time economy, i.e. in and around pubs, bars, nightclubs or on the streets at night.

On the other hand, women are far more at risk from intimate partners and acquaintances. Whilst domestic violence against men is also an issue, the majority of domestic violence is aimed at women.

With regards to rape and sexual assault, the most frequent types of recorded rape are ‘acquaintance’ (defined as when the victim and suspect are known to each other in a non-intimate capacity) and ‘stranger’ rape (defined as when the victim has had no previous contact with the suspect). However, the British Crime Survey (BCS) results (which are compiled by interviewing a sample of the population, as opposed to police records, which record reported crimes) classify the majority of all rapes as intimate (over 50%). This confirms the BCS findings that there is more underreporting in intimate rape.

Alcohol & Safety

Suzy Lamplugh Trust stresses that alcohol is a mind altering substance which impairs our ability to make safe decisions and choices. Even a few drinks can make a person decide to take risks which they wouldn’t dream of doing normally – such as getting into an unlicensed minicab or taking a short cut through a deserted park late at night.

Taking these unnecessary risks makes people more vulnerable to certain types of crime, including violence and sexual attacks. Suzy Lamplugh Trust are concerned that the culture of binge drinking in the UK is increasing the risks people would otherwise take, which in turn is providing extra opportunities for criminals.

Drink-Spiking and Drug-Assisted Rapes

There has been so much emphasis in the media during the last few years about the dangers of drug rape and drink-spiking but Suzy Lamplugh Trust believe the real threat to people’s safety is not what is put in your drink but the drink itself. Research has identified that alcohol is far more likely to be a factor in rape and sexual assault cases than drug spiking.

Having said that, drink-spiking and drug-assisted rape are still issues that people need to stay alert about – and that includes men, as male rapes are more prevalent than many assume. (The British Crime Survey 2008 indicates that the lifetime prevalence for rape and attempted rape in those over 16 was nearly one in 24 women (4.2 per cent) and one in 200 men (0.5 per cent). Kershaw et al (2008).

Mini-cab safety – Are people still taking risks?

Suzy Lamplugh Trust believes that most people are far more aware of the risks of getting in to an unlicensed mini-cab these days. However, still too many of those who would never dream of getting into one when they are sober, don’t think twice after they’ve had a few drinks.

What exacerbates the problem is the fact that many people still don’t know how to tell a licensed cab from an unlicensed one. Suzy Lamplugh Trust believe it should be made much more obvious to everyone – even the uninformed tourist – which are the legitimate cabs and that this should be made uniform across the UK.

Mini-Cab Licensing – Is it working?

Suzy Lamplugh Trust feel that whilst mini-cab licensing goes a long way towards improving the safety of passengers, there are two issues which concern us. The first is the problem with identification. The charity thinks it should be made more obvious to potential passengers if a cab is licensed or not and that any form of identification should be made uniform across the UK.

The second is the issue of how it is decided who should or should not be given a license due to a criminal record. The decision as to who might be a danger to the public is left up to individuals within the relevant local authority and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust are concerned that these individuals may not have the suitable training/experience for this job or access to the necessary information on certain individuals.

Children Today – Are they over-protected?

Suzy Lamplugh Trust believe that the attention the media has shown to threats and attacks on children over the years has caused many parents to restrict their children’s independence in an attempt to keep them safe, which is a shame. There is no doubt that it can be a dangerous world but the dangers must be kept in proportion. Nobody wants children to be so over-protected that they cannot live their lives to the full.

The charity stresses that the important thing is that children are not wrapped in cotton wool one minute and sent off into the world with no preparation the next. Personal safety is a life skill that can be learnt and as children grow they should learn safe independence.

They are going to be out there on their own one day and one of the best gifts you can give a child is the knowledge and confidence to live their life to the full as safely as possible.

Safety of Lone workers

Suzy Lamplugh Trust emphasises that all employees who come into contact with the general public can potentially be at risk of violence and aggression. However, anyone on their own – without the support and back up of colleagues – is more vulnerable than most.

Lone workers need systems and procedures that protect their safety. The lack of these can result not only in staff being put in unnecessary danger – and the employer at risk of litigation – but also low morale, lack of motivation, high levels of sick leave and a high staff turnover. These factors have a negative impact on the organisational performance as well as the individuals. Therefore Suzy Lamplugh Trust believes it pays both employer and employee to get it right.

Gap Year Travel – Should parents be worried?

There are dangers for the unprepared that can cause foreign trips to end in disaster, however Suzy Lamplugh Trust believe that the majority of problems occur due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of the culture of the country or countries that are being visited.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust stresses that it is vital that travellers find out in advance as much as they can about the country or countries they plan to visit. The more knowledge they have the safer they will be.

Some of the factors to be considered if you wish to avoid potentially dangerous situations are dress, social relations, politics, body language, hand signals and the law.

Are We More at Risk on Holiday than at Home?

People are seldom more relaxed, less on guard and, in many cases, more likely to have had too much to drink on a nightly basis, than when they are on holiday. Add to that the fact that they usually don’t know the dangerous and safe areas of their holiday destination, the culture or even how to tell a reputable taxi from a rogue one, and it’s easy to see why holidays can be a recipe for disaster.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust believes that people need to make a conscious decision before going on holiday that they are going to take sensible precautions to protect their safety – and they need to ensure that too much sun, sea and sangria doesn’t affect that decision when they get there.

Workplace Safety – general

Personal safety in the workplace has improved tremendously since Suzy Lamplugh’s disappearance in 1986. At that time the personal safety of staff was not even recognised as an issue in the workplace.

These days the majority of good employers take the personal safety of their staff very seriously and spend the time and effort to develop effective safety policies and procedures to minimise any risks and offer suitable training and resources to staff to ensure that they can deal with any difficult situations that might occur during their working day.

However, there are still too many employers who do not consider personal safety to be an issue, even though they are required by law to do so. Therefore Suzy Lamplugh Trust will continue to work to improve safety in the workplace and to expose bad practice wherever it occurs.

Safety in Schools

Suzy Lamplugh Trust believes that everyone in a school community – teachers, pupils and visitors – should be made aware of the importance of their own and others’ personal safety.

Schools should ensure that everyone within their community knows that they have the right to feel safe; regardless of their background, ethnicity, sexual orientation or ability.

Both staff and students should be encouraged to speak out at all times if they have a concern about their own or someone else’s safety and everyone in the community should be involved in helping to create an environment in which they can work and learn safely.