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CONTENTS WELCOME 04 05 BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE 06 07 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 08 13 ONLINE DATING 14 15 SAFETY TIPS 16 17 I M ABOUT TO BE ATTACKED 18 19 STALKING AND HARRASSMENT 20 21 POSTERS TO LOOK OUT FOR 22 23 ASK FOR ANGELA 24 HOW TO SIGNAL FOR HELP 25 WHO TO CALL 26 27 PAGE
OUR PROMISE TO WOMEN S SAFETY STM is a proud member of the Women s Night Safety Charter a project launched by the Mayor of London designed to tackle violence against women whilst making London a welcoming and safe environment Likewise STM is also a founding signatory of the EDI Charter by Women in Rail and Railway Industry Association an initiative launched to champion equality diversity and inclusion throughout the UK Railway Industry
WELCOME to the second edition of the Voice of Women VOW Booklet here to bring you a new batch of exclusive safety tips resources and important information aimed at supporting and safeguarding the women of today Founded in 2021 VOW was created as a means for providing a voice to each and every woman within STM Group and the wider security industry breaking our silence and proving that we are not a small minority but in fact a voice to be reckoned with
WILL YOU JOIN US Since the launch of the first edition back in 2021 we have seen some fantastic advances made by women not just within STM but within the security industry and beyond including the appointment of more females into executive positions as well as the ongoing recognition and appraisal of our female frontline workers With that said there is still a long road ahead in the fight for total equality of women Therefore not only does this booklet come as a celebration of recognition and reminding us of everything that has been achieved within the last 12 months but it also comes as a serious message to highlight the issues still being faced and how we must work together to overcome these STM Group will continue to do everything in its power to aid the war for total equality with the creation of VOW being just one example of our devotion to the cause At STM we are all one family regardless of any differentiating factor and as a familywe will stand by one another to support encourage and care for each other
5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE AT WORK For many women feeling insecure at work is a consistent battle especially when working in a male dominated industry However a lack of confidence can become a major obstacle in achieving your professional dreams and will stop you from truly seeing your full potential But fear not confidence can be learnt it just takes practice If you feel like you need a confidence boost why not try following these trusted and tested tips all aimed at boosting your self assurance and digging deep to find your most confident self
1 IF YOU DON T KNOW ASK Not knowing everything within your role can make you feel insecure But remember that no matter what point you are at in your career you will never have all the answers 2 BE CURIOUS Showing signs of curiosity sends the message that you re ambitious and eager to learn something that all employers love 3 GO THE EXTRA MILE With each new task try and find ways to make it that little bit more creative efficient or presentable 4 FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT Dressing well having good posture being friendly and making eye contact with people is all a great way to give the impression that you re confident and in control 5 CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS Received an amazing performance review Nailed a big project or client meeting Celebrate it Your achievements deserve to be acknowledged and by doing this it will remind you of how great you really are
UNDERSTANDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN While both men and women can be victims of violence violence against women often at the hands of men is a unique category of violence that leads back to the historical beliefs that men have more rights to power over women On some level most of us participate in the culture that supports and encourages violence against women in both small ways like telling our friends to man up when they are struggling with something to large and more extreme ways such as the physical and sexual abuse of women
Worldwide an estimated 736 million women have experienced physical and or sexual intimate partner violence non partner sexual violence or both in their lifetime INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE With such truly shocking statistics it s important to note the real impacts of violence against women where there can be serious and permanent mental physical sexual and This refers to behaviour by an intimate partner or ex partner that causes physical sexual or psychological harm including physical aggression sexual coercion psychological abuse and controlling behaviours reproductive health issues such as an increasing the risk of HIV and an increased number of suicides in women who have been victims against this violence Not only is this a violation against women s human rights but it can also leave damaging psychological effects including Feelings of shame or guilt Social isolation or withdrawal Eating disorders Anxiety disorders PTSD Depression and suicidal thoughts or actions SEXUAL VIOLENCE Violence against women can be defined as any act of gender based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical sexual or mental harm or suffering to women and still plays an astonishingly high part in today s society This is any sexual act attempt to obtain a sexual act or other act directed against a person s sexuality using coercion by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim in any setting
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Lower levels of education A history of exposure to child maltreatment Witnessing family violence Excessive use of drugs and alcohol Having attitudes that condone violence Communities that privilege a higher status of men over women
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES Homocide suicide Serious injuries Unintended pregnancies Induced abortions Gynaecological problems Sexually transmitted infections Increased liklihood of miscarriage still births and pre term deliveries
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Speak out against all forms of violence Respect and embrace diversity Don t blame victims and reinforce that sexual assault is never the victim s fault Ask permission before pursuing physical or sexual contact with someone Know that most sex offenders aren t strangers 86 are known to their victim Treat all women and girls with respect Take no for an answer Always ask never assume you know what your partner wants healthy boundaries and don t be afraid to voice your feelings in your Learn about relationship Refuse to coerce or manipulate your partner in order to get your way
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN ONLINE DATING Online dating can be a great and easy way to meet people especially for those who don t have the time or social battery to always be out and looking for a new companion Although the benefits of online dating can be advantageous to many its important to still understand and be aware of the dangers that come with this The majority of individuals who use dating sites are genuine people with good and honest intentions but what about the people who are not When meeting people online it is important to stop for a moment and consider if what you are doing could lead to a dangerous and or threatening situation If you are considering or already using dating sites take a look at some of our top tips and advice for ensuring that your online dating experience is as safe as possible
WATCH WHAT YOU SHARE One of the first rules of online dating is to not exchange any personal information this starts with the username you pick Avoid something that might give away personal information such as your surname age or year of birth Secondly until you ve met and feel that you can trust the person you ve met online don t share your address where you work or study your phone number or email address STAY IN THE APP It s always best to keep using the messaging function within the dating app or site you are using until you have met and feel that you can trust the other person If they ask for your number or ask you to email them or switch to WhatsApp a common trick among scammers is to say their subscription is running out just politely decline and say it s nothing personal it s just your preference not to TRUST YOUR GUT Just like when you meet someone face to face your instincts will always tell you if somethings not quite right If something feels a little off or strange chances are something s not what it seems Trust your instincts and be cautious until you ve had long enough to really get to know someone Or if you re really not sure run it by a friend that you trust to get some level headed advice
YOU LIVE ALONE Avoid oversharing on social media Posting your location travel plans and details about your home layout can make it easy for people to know exactly how and when to break into your home Tell someone you got home safe Tell a friend or family member to expect a text message from you when you get home and what to do if they don t hear from you Get to know your neighbours Knowing who is around you will help you know when unusual behaviour is happening and will help to build trust with the community around you YOU RE DRIVING ALONE Don t let vehicle maintenance slide Roadside breakdowns can occur when you least expect it Remember to keep your car doors locked at all times even if you feel like there is no immediate danger Let your friends or family know where you re going and that you ll be alone Let them know when you arrive at your destination A FEW SAFETY TIPS IF
YOU RE WALKING ALONE If you are walking alone at night stay near well lit places and pavements Avoid alleys and other poorly lit closed spaces that might allow an attacker the advantage of surprise Put your phone down A distracted person is an easy target where using your phone means your eyes ears hands and mind are occupied When walking alone walk with purpose and project confidence Chin up eyes forward and keep a steady pace Attackers are more likely to victimise someone who looks lost or timid
HELP I M ABOUT TO BE ATTACKED You don t have to be a martial arts expert to thwart an attacker Although they may be bigger and stronger than you you can use their weak spots to your advanatge and get yourself out of a dangerous situation EYES Poke claw or grab THROAT Jab the base with a pointed hand NOSE Punch elbow or headbutt
CROTCH Kick punch or grab FINGERS Bend and bite SHINS FEET Stomp with your feet Kick or rake with the sole of your shoe
STALKING AND HARRASSMENT WHAT IS STALKING Stalking is a pattern of persistent and unwanted attention that makes you feel pestered scared anxious or harassed Some examples of stalking are Regularly giving unwanted gifts Making unwanted communication Damaging property Repeatedly following and or spying on you Threats
Taken in isolation some of the behaviours may seem like small acts but together they make up a consistent pattern of behaviour that can be frightening and upsetting It is important to know that stalking is a criminal offence and because of this if you go to the Police it will be taken seriously SOME ADVICE TO TAKE Paladin the National Stalking Advisory Service has issued the following advice for all who are victims of stalking and or harrassment Trust yourself and your instincts Report it as early as possible to the Police and tell others what is happening Get advice from Paladin or the Suzy Lamplugh Trust Keep evidence of what s happening try writing a diary WHO TO CALL National Stalking Helpline 0808 802 0300 Paladin the National Stalking Advisory Service 020 3866 4107
POSTERS TO LOOK OUT FOR
ASK FOR ANGELA The safety initiative Ask for Angela has been rolled out to bars clubs and other licensed businesses across the Capital People who feel unsafe vulnerable or threatened on their nights out can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and ask for Angela This code phrase will indicate that this person is at risk of danger and a trained member of staff will assist in getting them back to safety which may be through reuniting them with a friend seeing them to a taxi or by calling venue security and or the police The Ask for Angela initiative aims to reduce sexual violence and vulnerability by providing customers with a non descript phrase they can use in pubs clubs and restaurants to gain assistance from staff members in order to be separated from the company of someone who is making them feel unsafe or at threat of danger
Unsure of what to do if you see or are a victim of domestic abuse Domestic violence is a serious global issue with cases still continuing to rise all across the world In an effort to combat the rise of domestic violence in their own country the Canadian Women s Foundation has launched a new initiative to give victims a way to silently and secretly ask for help It s called the Signal for Help and it s successfully catching on in more places than just Canada The foundation s Signal for Help is a simple hand gesture that can be done over Zoom calls TikTok FaceTime or any other type of video service To make the signal you hold up your open palm tuck your thumb against it and then close your fingers over your thumb TOP TIP If you put your drink down do not pick it up again and always watch your drink being made SIGNAL FOR HELP
WHO TO CALL TEXTING 61016 FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES If you experience or witness sexual harassment as you travel you can report it discreetly to the British Transport Police by texting 61016 You can inform them about an incident that does not require an emergency response detailing what happened where and when You do not have to prove that it was a criminal offence or an intentional act to report it the British Transport Police will investigate all of that for you If you require immediate action where yourself or someone else is in danger or harm please always call 999 immediately REPORTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING Human trafficking is the trade of people for exploitation and commercial gain If you think someone has been trafficked you can help make them safe If you suspect human trafficking you should call the Police Call 999 if it is an emergency or 101 if it is deemed non urgent If you prefer to stay anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
IF YOU DON T WANT TO TALK TO THE POLICE DOMESTIC ABUSE National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Talk to a doctor health visitor or midwife Men can call Men s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 Men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 If you identify as LGBT you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 for forced marriage and honour crimes You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV UK Forced Marriage Unit SEXUAL VIOLENCE Rape Crisis 0808 500 222 Freephone 0808 801 0770 The Survivors Trust 0808 801 0818 NAPAC 0808 801 0331