NEWS
BIG STORY
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED he idea of ‘safety at work’ for many employees is often applied to any equipment used and the avoidance of hazards. However, for many women working as community practitioners (CPs), there are other ways to read the phrase. CPs work in community locations, in people’s homes, in places that may be out of the way or badly lit, and with clients and patients who may be hostile. All this adds up to a potentially dangerous situation. And over the past couple of months, the whole issue of women’s safety – on the streets, at home and at
Women’s safety has moved into the spotlight recently, and community practitioners – many of whom are female – face particular risks at work. Journalist Radhika Holmström asks how you can stay safe on the job.
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work – has come into sharp public focus following the tragic and shocking death of Sarah Everard, who was abducted in March while walking home in London.
VICTIMS OF GENDER Most of the statistical attention on female safety surrounds what is classified as ‘sexual assault’, while also acknowledging that a huge proportion of sexual assaults go unreported. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest that men are more likely than women to be the victims of violent crime, except in cases of domestic abuse (ONS, 2020). However, the evidence from women
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