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East: Women To Keep Safe On Nights Out
18 August 2012, 06:00
Women going out tonight in Norfolk and Suffolk are being targeted by police to make sure they keep safe.
Women on a night out in the county's nightspots will be targeted by police this weekend in a bid to increase awareness of personal safety.
Public order officers in Norwich, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Lowestoft and Newmarket will be speaking to women and handing out cards which actively urge them to stick together and look out for each other as well as pre-arrange safe transport home.
The campaign aims to coincide with a time of year when police traditionally sees an increase in reports of rape and serious sexual assaults – in the majority of cases the victim knows or has just met the offender. Reports of serious sexual offences increase during the summer months, and during warmer weather - a time when there are increased opportunities for people to socialise.
In Suffolk in 2011, the urban centres of Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds saw the highest percentage of reported rape offences.
Suffolk's night-time economy is being used to raise awareness among women aged 18 to 24 who, statistically, are at highest risk of becoming a victim of rape or serious sexual assault; and men aged 18 to 24 who form the highest percentage of offenders.
The safety cards contain top tips and information for contacting police and The Fern's, Suffolk's Sexual Assault Referral Centre as well as a Quick Response (QR) code linking to our short online film 'Look What You Did'.
In Norfolk in 2011, the urban centres of Norwich, King's Lynn and Yarmouth saw the highest percentage of reported rape offences.
Norfolk's night-time economy is being used to raise awareness among women aged 18 to 24 who, statistically, are at highest risk of becoming a victim of rape or serious sexual assault; and men aged 18 to 24 who form the highest percentage of offenders.
The safety cards contain top tips and information for contacting police and The Harbour Centre, Norfolk's Sexual Assault Referral Centre as well as a Quick Response (QR) code linking to our short online film "Look What You Did".