Women say they are scared to go out in one part of Liverpool after women reported being groped, followed or harassed in public in recent weeks.
One jogger, 21-year-old Harper Clayson, said she was followed by a man in a white van shouting abuse at her while she ran along Lawrence Road in Picton. The final year history student switched from her previous route through Sefton Park due to being followed by people on scooters. Harper said: "I have anxiety and I run to help deal with that, so when you have someone driving alongside you as you're running, it just brings all of that back."
Just around the corner on Cretan Road, another woman said a boy grabbed her buttocks and another snatched a vape from her friend's hand after a group of children she estimated were aged between five and 12 shouted abuse and threw lolly ices at the pair. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she's "seen it happen to quite a few people" and knows of a friend who was punched by a group of kids in the area. Another woman posted in a Facebook group about being groped by kids just around the corner around Langton Road the following week.
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In January, the ECHO reported on a series of incidents involving young boys in the Smithdown Road area of Liverpool, including one when a child allegedly grabbed a woman's chest inappropriately while stood in her own doorway. Police warned an eight-year-old boy and his two friends after a separate incident where they reportedly approached a 20-year-old woman on Smithdown Road, and the eight-year-old allegedly lifted the woman's skirt.
There is no indication any of the events are connected or involve the same people, but the incidents have left women wondering whether it's safe to go out alone in this part of Wavertree, particularly at night. The second year student, who said she was groped by a kid 'not even up to her hip', told the ECHO: "Obviously I've been groped before by adults, but you can't really say anything when it's a child. I was just confused. The kids are so young, so I felt like I couldn't say anything."
But "this is not how children behave", she said, adding: "I don't really like to go out on my own after dark anyway, but when you feel unsafe walking alone in the dark, it's usually not fearing being mugged by children."
Wavertree MP Paula Barker said: "I have been alarmed to hear about these latest incidents of violence and abuse against young women and girls in Picton. I am more alarmed about the age of those involved. This has to stop. Sadly, I believe we have seen a dramatic breakdown in our traditional societal values and it is impacting our young women's safety.
"If we are serious about tackling this then we need to acknowledge it exists, improve education about it in schools and homes, properly fund public services to address it and a Government prepared to work cross party to tackle this. I have spoken on several occasions now in the House of Commons about violence against women and girls and I will continue to press this Government for greater action including making misogyny a hate crime."
Merseyside Police's local community inspector, Dave Uren, said: "We are committed to working with our communities, partners and stakeholders to prevent this type of behaviour against women and girls. Where we receive reports of anti-social behaviour, we have a range of tools at our disposal and have increased patrols in key areas at key times as well as introducing dispersal zones to provide officers with increased powers to order people suspected of such behaviour to leave the area.
"We are fully engaged with local schools in Picton and Wavertree, with officers visiting to talk to children about the impact of unacceptable behaviour so that all members of our communities are protected. In partnership with Liverpool City Council, we are working towards a Safer Streets bid for the area.
"Safer Streets initiatives elsewhere in Merseyside have already secured improved street lighting and CCTV – including the city centre and major routes into and out of the city on public transport - and it is hoped we can introduce the same technology in Wavertree and Picton to help prevent such offences.
"Everyone should feel able to live, work and enjoy their area free from the fear of being targeted in this way and these improvements will help to prevent crime and ensure residents feel safe. It is vitally important that we work together to prevent anti-social behaviour and any violence against women and girls. If you have any information on similar incidents, please contact us. If you've been affected by sexual violence of any kind don’t be afraid to tell someone, find the courage to come forward and get the help you deserve."
You can anonymously tell the police about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues like street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism, and/or because of some behaviours like being followed or verbally abused online via StreetSafe here: StreetSafe | Merseyside Police
You can report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences anonymously here: Report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences | Merseyside Police. There is a lot of support available from specialist officers within Merseyside Police and through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities.
In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
