By Efstratia Nasioula
Following the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, protesters gathered on Westminster Bridge in anger, complaining that women should feel and be safe while walking themselves home at night.
The government’s Crime and Justice taskforce met yesterday in the wake of public protest, and confirmed that it will provide £45 million in funding to improve lighting and put up more CCTV in the streets, doubling its Safer Streets fund.
A Met Police officer had been charged with the kidnap and murder of Everard, opening up a variety of different discussions amongst the public.
Making the streets safer, especially at night, has become a top priority.
Police officers will also be stationed outside pubs and clubs in the following months, wearing plainclothes as undercover cops.
Plusia Romianiki, 25, is a photographer who last year lived in Clapham Common, the place where the murder took place, said: “It was a really quiet area, but you could tell it can be dangerous at night.
“I have never walked home alone.”
The sad story of Sarah’s murder was the beginning of an important conversation regarding the fear of women to walk home alone at night.
Hundreds of women have shared their experiences of being frightened when alone, and some have also shared stories of the sexual harassment and abuse they have faced while using public transport, or walking home after 12 pm.
May Colhin, 32, is a designer who has lived in London for almost 10 years. Once while on a shopping trip a man followed her from the grocery shop and waited outside her building for two hours, she said.
“It wasn’t even 10:30 when I noticed him from the window outside my door, I understood who he was since he was staring at me while shopping at the of-license.”
Luckily, the man left and he never reappeared. “I called my mother and asked her to call the police if anything happened,” she said.
“After that, I never left my house alone when the sun is out of sight.”
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