Portsmouth women speak out on the dangers they face out on the streets

Women across the city have been speaking out about their concerns in the wake of the disappearance of Londoner Sarah Everard.

Human remains were discovered in woodland in Ashford, Kent, during the search for the 33-year-old. A serving Met Police officer has been arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnap.

The crime has shocked the nation and ignited a national discussion on women’s safety.

Among those coming forward to speak out included government minister and Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage.

The Tory politician said she was scared to walk out of parliament alone after late-night voting.

She said: ‘It goes without saying that every woman should feel safe to walk our streets without fear and yet it’s a shocking truth, brought into focus by this week’s events, that so many of us don’t.

‘What a terrible thing that women should be made to feel this way.’

Among those women from Portsmouth speaking out in a post on The News’s Facebook account was Georgia Brett.

She said: ‘I’ve walked the long way home. I’ve kept my keys in my hand. I’ve pretended to be on the phone. I’ve pretended to know someone who’s looking uncomfortable being approached by a man. I’ve pretended to be a lesbian. I’ve been told to make myself sick because “men don’t like that”.

‘You name it, we’ve ALL done it. And nothing will ever change until the men that make us act this way do.’

Sue Ratcliffe said she had become so concerned for her safety that she had ‘started carrying a rape alarm.’

While Alis Jones said: ‘I always walk with my keys between my fingers in my pocket when I leave the house after dark and always either on a main road or somewhere well lit. There are certain pockets of Portsmouth you just don’t feel safe in day or night.

‘It's sad this isn't even something you're taught, is something you just instinctively do as a woman.’

The comments came as Hampshire police today revealed they were hunting a male pervert who indecently exposed himself to a 20-year-old woman.

The incident took place on Monday at 9.50pm in St George’s Road, Old Portsmouth.

Portsmouth North MP and cabinet minister, Penny Mordaunt, said she could understand why women were scared to walk alone at night.

She said: ‘Lots can be done by both the police but also the council – good lighting and design for example – to help people feel safe.

‘However, we can all help each other too by looking out for one another. Like many today, my thoughts are with Sarah and her family.’

In England and Wales, figures reveal that there were 6.3 times as many women being sexually assaulted than men, with women victims making up 86 per cent of cases.

And when it comes to rape, cases with women victims outnumber male cases 15 to 1, with women making up 94 per cent of recorded crimes.

You can catch up with more of our stories about crime and incidents in Portsmouth by joining our Portsmouth Breaking News and Incidents Facebook group.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as our new Puzzles section.