DON’T PANIC 107
HARASSMENT & SEXUAL ASSAULT HARASSMENT
per cent of callers to the Rape Crisis
vetted by the police. They also have a
Reported incidences of sexual harass-
Federation Wales and England knew
meter showing the cost of the journey.
ment at the School are low but they
their assailant. Women are not the only
Private hire cabs should be pre-booked.
can happen to both male and female
victims of sexual assaults. Men are also
Use a reputable company. Avoid cabs
students. Harassment covers a wide
sexually assaulted, or experience violent
that tout for business at bus stops or
range of unsolicited behaviour from
relationships in their lives. Sexual assault
outside venues.
unwanted comments and gestures of
and rape are more likely to happen in
a sexual nature to demands for sexual
less busy areas. You can reduce the risk
favours and sexual assault. In short is is
of this type of attack by following the
behaviour which violates an individual’s
general guidance earlier in this section.
dignity, and/or creates an intimidat-
“HARASSMENT CAN CAUSE DISTRESS AND HARM TO THOSE ON THE RECEIVING END”
ing, hostile, degrading, humiliating or
If you are attacked, you must decide
offensive environment. Harassment
whether to defend yourself, which may
can cause distress and harm to those
put you at risk of further injury. Or it may
If you are at all uneasy about the cab
on the receiving end. Other forms of
not be possible to defend yourself.
or the driver, don’t get in. If you get in,
harassment include racial harassment,
Either way, you did not ask to be raped
always sit behind the driver. If still un-
harassment on the grounds of sexual
or assaulted. It is not your fault. You did
easy, ask to be let out where there are
orientation, bullying, age harassment
not deserve it.
lots of people in a well-lit area.
Such conduct is unacceptable and you
If you have been raped, you may or may
See p121 On Friday nights the LSE
do not need to stand for it.
not want to report it to the police, or to
Students’ Union runs an hourly night bus
see a nurse or counsellor. The police are
from the Peacock Theatre to the halls.
and harassment of disabled people.
Many people are often unsure if what
specially trained to work with those who
they have experienced constituted
have been sexually assaulted.
harassment but any incident can be reported to the Education and Welfare
If you want to report the crime straight-
Officer, Women’s Officer, LGBT Officer
away, whether you get medical help or
or Anti-Racism Officer. You can also
go straight to the police, try not to wash
choose to resolve the issue informally
or change your clothes. If you want to
and will not become formal until you
report the crime at a later date, this is
decide.
okay too.
We can all prevent inadvertently
TAXI SAFETY
harassing others by being sensitive to
If you are going to be out late, try to
the reactions and needs of others and
arrange a lift home or pre-book a cab.
making sure that our words and actions
Cabs in London are either Private Hire
do not cause offence.
or Taxis.
SEXUAL ASSAULT
By law, only taxis can display an il-
Despite popular beliefs, rape by a
luminated Taxi sign. They are insured,
stranger is very uncommon. Around 97
mechanically sound and drivers are
CONTACT RAPE CRISIS 08451 221 331 WWW.RAPECRISIS.ORG.UK