Every Woman Has The Right To Feel Safe On Our Streets

It is often said that the health of a society can be measured by how it treats its weakest member. But there is another test that equally might be used to judge how civilised we are as a nation: does a lone woman feel safe when walking home at night?

- Ross Clark

The answer in Britain’s case – although we are far from the worst offender in this respect – is a sad “no”. I never knew Sarah Everard and I have no idea how she felt inside when she set off across Clapham Common from a friend’s house last March, but in the wake of her horrific murder I know that many more women will be feeling anxious as they step outside their front door.

It is not just Sarah Everard, either. Since her death we have had the equally horrific killing of Sabina Nessa, while on her way to meet a friend a couple of weeks ago. Individually, our chances of meeting a violent death may be small, but crimes like this have a hugely disproportionate effect on the lives of us all. Each time this happens it makes Britain seem a bit more of a hostile place, takes away a bit more of our freedom to go about our day-to-day lives with confidence.

As Sarah's mother said, had she died of a disease, there would have been people around her caring for her. Had she died in an accident, people would have rushed to her aid. But the thought that her life was taken away by a complete stranger intent on doing her harm – and without anyone around to help her – is especially hard to swallow. The very thought dehumanises us all.