My Girlfriend and I (we’re lesbian) were walking down the street at midnight in Swansea on a Saturday evening, a male in a car propositions us for sex and makes comments about my legs. in the end I tell him to F**CK off, he then follows us into a car park where my car was park. He only retreats when he sees and hears me call the police.
The police were not one bit interested. In fact we were told we should not be out at that time of night as if it was OUR fault! knowing a bit about how to defend myself as well as my rights, as well as what the police should really be doing I challenged him, he then backtracked and claimed that was his personal opinion.
After complaints to the police, who were still not interested, my persistence and help from my AM Edwina Hart the offender was finally given a warning.
A few weeks later we saw two police officers in a van around about the same location leering at us.. Male police officers are as bad as anyone. Just check out the number of warnings and arrests for prostitution and then the number of men warned or prosecuted for soliciting women for sex… tells you all you want to know about South Wales Police.
– Anonymous
Location: Swansea High Street, South Wales, United Kingdom
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B. says
This is disheartening indeed. But I’m very glad you and your girlfriend are safe.
I was sexually assaulted last summer in DC, and a few weeks later I was with my girlfriends in the same neighborhood, when two men wouldn’t stop verbally harassing us. When we finally called the police and tried to get help, the very first thing the officer said to me was: “Why are you still hanging out in this neighborhood if you were sexually assaulted here?”
It amazes me how they fail to realize what they are implying with these types of statements. Do they realize that they are suggesting that we accept being treated like 2nd rate citizens, and accept not being able to spend time in the neighborhoods we want to, at the hour we want to?
While everyone, male or female, of course needs to be careful, this attitude infuriates me, and sadly I think it’s quite common.
Amelia says
Yuck – that’s awful.
Will you go to the police station to try & make a formal complaint about both sets of police officers? Even if you don’t know their names (or number plate) it might be worth doing… that would make me so mad.
If it happened to me (here in New Zealand) I’d definitely consider trying to lay a formal complaint at a police station about the officers… or else writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper about it.
Clarice says
I’m sorry this happened to you. And I’m appauled to hear about those two male police officers. They don’t deserve their highly respected job if they cannot act responsibly.
As for the police not taking your issue seriously, it makes me feel ashamed to be living in South Wales. Yes I’m from here too. Sexual harassment is a crime. And it is NEVER your fault.
Dalaurya says
“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex”. -Karl Marx