In a bid to make the streets safer for women, following the murder of Sarah Everard, a petition asking for women of low social economic statuses to get free transportation after dark has been circulating on the internet.
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Lower income women are likelier to be attacked and raped
The petition that started on change.org has asked Transport for London to provide free transportation for all low-income women as a way to reduce the unnecessary need to walk outside after dark at the risk of being assaulted.
The request for action has been brought forth following extremely concerning reports that 97% of all women in the UK have been subject to sexual harassment at one point in time in their lives. Figures form 2018 show that women on the lower end of the social economic spectrum are 295% likelier to worry about being attacked while 241% are more likely to worry about being raped.
A rise in stalking and harassment by almost a third
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), on the other hand, reports that harassment and stalking have gone up by over 31% in England and Wales since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The petition, now more than ever, is seeking the general public to show their support in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard:
With a recent UN study confirming 97 per cent of young women in the UK have been victims of sexual harassment and in the wake of the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, TfL can play a part in significantly reducing the risk of street attacks for women.
Adding that:
Please sign this petition to show TfL that you want to see free transport introduced for women on low incomes after dark to reduce the need for walking alone at night. Free transport for those who can't otherwise afford it will lessen the time they need to spend on the streets at night and therefore the risk of attack
The petition also explains that CCTV on buses, the underground and in rail stations will allow police the evidence they need to be able to identity the perpetrator so as to prosecute them and prevent any further attacks from happening.
You can sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/tfl-free-night-time-transport-for-low-income-women
