03 Dec Is enough being done about stalkers using London buses?
London’s buses are becoming more dangerous for single women but is enough being done about stalking on public transport?
By Nancy Adusei | Published 3rd December 2014
Above is a photograph of 20 year old Danni and her 16 month old daughter, Amy.
Stalking cases involving young women have progressed in the busy areas of London. Questions of community locals have been raised against authorities as to how safety advice and care only reduces but does not guarantee the prevention of people being harassed publicly.
Danni Wheeler a 20 year old mother of one was recently stalked by a man who she claims to be in his 40’s. This took place during a late afternoon near Highbury and Islington station with no further actions taken on it. Danni explained: “I’ve been followed before but not onto a bus”.
Danni wrote her story in her phone’s notepad and uploaded it onto Instagram. She felt more comfortable sharing the news within her online social group rather than the police. Danni said because: “it wasn’t anything physical they wouldn’t do anything about it. They would probably give the man a warning and he’ll probably go out and do it again”.
A middle aged, female passenger heroically came to Miss Wheeler’s defence and told the man to get off. This matter leaves it down to the person in charge of the bus, the Bus driver who Danni said: “Could hear and wouldn’t do anything” in the presence of an entire who were alarmed themselves. The guardian who published ‘Cyberstalking ‘now more common’ than face-to-face stalking’ does not mean that ‘face-to-face stalking has stopped. It was rather online where Danni felt most comfortable reporting what had happened to her.
Interview with Danni:
A previous report from the ‘New Statesman’ was titled, “The right to feel safe: women should be able to use public transport without fear”. This article equally stresses the growing tendency of young women like Danni; in this case, leaving their public offenses unreported; presumably victim blaming. To add to the common concern arising for the sake of women, is the lack of concern that some women today have for themselves.
However, women who in most occasions are defenseless and therefore need protection, are expected to be heavily reliant on the police and those who maintain and work for the means of public travel. The metropolitan police’s advice on prevention from being stalked mentions that people are to report their concerns to the police. If this is the case then people should be informed bout the significant difference of reporting their incidents to have a better idea of what are the police doing about it.
The matter of stalking can be identified in numerous ways and extents. From being followed, receiving unwanted gifts or letters, an encounter of verbal abuse through the telephone and other methods of invasive behaviors. The influence of ‘not being taken seriously’ has circulated amongst the mentalities of some women today. Research from the ‘national violence against women protection’ reveals, “92% reported physical effects and 98% reported emotional effects. These ranged from anxiety, sleep disturbances, anger, distrust, depression, self-harm, post-traumatic stress, and disorder and suicide attempts”.
A Young mother from croydon argues that the well-being of women and their health is important, she said: “especially young mothers who are currently looking after their younger children who rely on them for safety. What if mothers are not safe themselves?”
Bus driver, Nebiy Fisseha who regularly works the 153 route said: “It is recommended for people who experience such offences to inform the bus driver who is in the best position to stop it, there is a red button we press to make a direct call for police and it locates where the bus is, they will come right away”. Bus drivers hold a huge but limited responsibility towards the safety of their daily exchanging passengers. The bus driver’s Big Red Book is a requirement for them to read, the rules of applying concern to what is happening on their bus. This and is also available online for everyone to download. Danni’s driver in particular perceived this as unworthy to do which also left Danni clueless of what else to do.
73 Bus driver, Michael Adusei adds: “The most we could do is stop the bus and send a call, it only takes one call to resolve the problem. Bus drivers are not allowed to come out of their seat or they lose their job instantly”. Although CT Plus and Arriva are two different bus firms, it is evident through their responses to the case that they both contain similar professional morals. For the sake of bus driver’s keeping their jobs as well as they’re own safety, they have to remain loyal to the safety advice given to them through training.
Danni’s mother Lauren said: “However, if the bus driver had been mindful of what was arousing on his bus then it would make it easier for the condition of the victim if no one else had been on the bus”. The daily experience of public travellers in London has become questionable in terms of security and safety not being guaranteed when they react in such little affect as Danni’s driver did. It is important that management of public transport firms and their employers keep censorship, awareness and truly care for people rather than simply working for a pay check.
Support from the NSS (Network for surviving stalking) who launched a helpline since 2010 encourages people to have individual protection and alert the issue to those around them. These support systems are recommended by many people (especially women) be broadcasted loudly enough for connecting with other people who are still unaware that there is help.
Vanessa Damte a young women who this hasn’t happened to before said “Stalkers need to be stalked themselves”. Females at large have been target of such offences so it is important to alert the situations to the police and bus drivers who work for transport in London. They are who we depend on for our safety when in public. People take it less seriously until they’re in the situation. Stalker’s also known as ‘creeps’, ‘pervs’ or ‘lunatic’. The strategies they use to achieve this, what gives them the encouragement and how does this affect the management of the public (Transport, stations, cab drivers and regular pedestrians on the road.
There needs to be more advertisement, speed dial, something is missing, something that women can hold on their persons wherever they go. We all use our phones but when that dies we are left with nothing. Something needs to be invented to keep stalkers from feeling free on public transport. To give victims to these situations more authority over their lives.
A big concern for Protection from stalkers who freely roaming around London has been continually occurring for many years.Campaigns coming together to unite in hope to stop stalking such as ‘protection against stalking’ run a series of courses in conjunction with CAADA, supporting people to develop strategical ways to stay safe in London.
The NHS deal with health problems from A-Z, including advice on the mental well-being for people stressed, suffering anxiety and depression. Those who have no friends they could share things with and so when they keep it within themselves they actually cause them mental damage. Treatment and to feel cared for.
Doctor to give advice on to show inconsistency of official that there is the same way of dealing with it. How they would advise people who get stalked on buses. Dr Wheeler, from the Mildmay Medical Practice said: “People often take a long while; often months to recover mentally from being stalked or harassed this doesn’t mean they need to be scarred physically for it to be taken serious”.
Retired detective inspector, Hamish Brown MBE, known as the recognised leading authority on the interpretation and application of stalking legislation in the UK, made a book with the metropolitan police service titled, ‘Stalking and other forms of harassment: An investigators guide’ involves responses to reported stalking, handling the suspect and also advice for victims. Rt. Hon John Denham – Minister of State Home Office said: “Hamish has significantly influenced the law on the way it now effectively deals with stalking.”
According to Hamish’s Book (investigators guide) it states that it is necessary to: “Advise the victim of the advantages and disadvantages of police involvement. Just because the police are involved, it is no guarantee that the behaviour will stop. There is always a recourse through the civil courts although the victim should be advised about cost”.
National stalking helpline is available 9:30 to 16:00 on weekdays (except Wednesdays 13:00-16:00). It also is advised for immediate situations, whether on a bus or not, to call 999.
There has been much treatment and help mostly towards the after math of being stalked. However, the prevention of being immediately stalked before a victim is harmed has been raised from the concerns of individual safety. Certainly, there is an ongoing pattern of stalking which needs to be monitored and change. Rather than victims being blamed for the reporting of stalking or harassments, it is important to ensure that people whose living it is to manage public transport or keep London safe are fulfilling their committing duties.
