The Home Office has launched a new campaign – “ENOUGH – Violence Against Women And Girls” – in its latest effort to tackle sexual or physical abuse or violence against women and girls.
The campaign sets out five approaches – the “five Ds” – which people can use to reduce violence: distract; delegate; document; delay; and direct action.
A clear showing of disapproval is also encouraged, with statements such as “It’s against the law to do that”, or “That language is not OK”, or through disapproving body language of facial expressions.
“Abuse comes in many forms, and by standing against all of them, and holding perpetrators accountable, we can create a society where women and girls are safe,” said Mims Davies, safeguarding minister at the Home Office.
Based upon the five Ds is the idea that bystanders should Say something, Tell someone, Offer support, or Provide a diversion (STOP). Below is an explanation of each element of the guidance to help people step in safely.
Say something
You can show your disapproval at what is going on for example, by not laughing and saying, “I don’t think that’s funny”. Or you could be more direct, if you feel it’s safe to do so, by saying it’s unacceptable and tell them to stop.
Tell someone
You could tell someone in charge, like the bar staff if you’re in a pub or club, Human Resources (HR) if you’re at work, or the train guard or bus driver if you’re on public transport. You could also tell another member of the public or a passer-by and see if they’re willing to help – working together can be a safer, more effective way to intervene. It is important to check in with the victim on who they want to tell, or if they want to call the police.
Offer support
You can ask the victim if they’re OK. You could capture what’s happening on your phone and ask if they want the footage to report the incident, and you could offer to help report it. You could also help others already giving support. If it’s someone you know, check in with them at a time when they are alone and offer to help or support them to report if they want. If you think they might be in an abusive relationship, there is expert advice on what you can do and support available online or on the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Provide a diversion
Sometimes what is best in the moment is creating a distraction to interrupt what’s happening and give the person being targeted a chance to move away or create an opportunity for others to get help by delaying what is happening. You could strike up conversation with the victim. You could ask for directions, or where the next stop is on the bus or pretend you know them. If you’re at work, you could make up an excuse to speak to them about an unrelated task. You could also try dropping something nearby or creating some other minor commotion.
The campaign has the backing of the police, women’s groups, charities and other parties. What’s more, it comes as Katy’s Law comes into effect requiring police to take account of the views of victims before releasing a suspect on bail, with police also urged to use pre-charge bail instead of releasing suspects while under investigation.