News / Avon and Somerset Constabulary
‘Sexual assaults on a night out have become normalised’
Sick of being subjected to frequent sexual assaults in Bristol’s clubs and bars, one teenager decided to speak out and raise awareness of a widespread issue that all too often flies under the radar.
“It’s horrible, it makes me feel like a piece of meat,” says Lottie, 18, of the casual bum grabbing, groping, having men put their hands up her skirt or down tops and being pushed up against bars and touched from behind that she and her friends have to regularly face on a night out.
Deciding enough was enough, she contacted the police and went on to spearhead a campaign to highlight the issue of sexual assault and spread the word that this behaviour is a crime and won’t be tolerated. Her work has already caught national media attention.
is needed now More than ever
Lottie said the groping and grabbing was a routine part of a night out, but admitted she had not known what to do about the frequent incidents that were ruining her nights out.
She frequently complained to her mum Louise, who prompted her to contact police and see what is being done about the issue.
Lottie opens up to chief inspector Marie Wright, the force lead for rape and sexual assault:
“It usually happens in clubs when it’s busier, or on a packed dance floor. I think a lot of it is low level and they do it when they do not think anyone can see them,” Lottie told Bristol24/7.
“I have not taken any action when it’s happened which is something I regret but, sadly, it’s so normalised that I actually forgot it’s a crime and something I do not have to tolerate.
“Most of the time it’s grabbing your bum, or someone putting their hands up your skirt or down your top. There is a lot of touching your waist and I have been slapped on the bum as well. The first time this happened, I was at a friend’s party and I had my boyfriend at the time with me, who got very angry.”
She said it can be difficult to confront the perpetrators of sexual assault for fear of retaliation, embarrassment or simply because in a busy venue, you may not know who it was. She believes the intimidating lad culture is largely to blame and says men should challenge other men on such behaviour.
Police have stressed that sexual assaults can be reported whether you can identify who did it or not and are encouraging victims not to stay silent.
Wright said: “The fact that Lottie and her friends expect this kind of thing to happen to them every time they go on a night out, quite frankly, sickens me.
“Nobody has the right to touch someone in this way without their consent. The people who do this may think it’s a laugh, but they are wrong. It is sexual assault, and it’s unacceptable.”
Officers from Bridewell police station conducted a survey of people on a night out in Bristol and found incidents of sexual assault are commonplace
She admitted that police had not realised the extent of the problem before Lottie came forward, but a straw poll conducted by officers in Bristol City Centre indicates it is widespread, with 68 per cent of those asked saying they had experience similar assaults.
Lottie said her main reason for speaking out is to raise awareness of the issue and let both men and women know this behaviour doesn’t have to be tolerated.
She is calling for compulsory education around the issue of consent as, she says, there are many people who do not realise that this relatively low level groping and grabbing still constitutes sexual assault.
Lottie with her mum,Louise, who encouraged her to speak out
Police are working collaboratively with partners, including Bristol Women’s Voice, who are encouraging venues to sign up to the Bristol Zero Tolerance campaign, making bars and clubs safer spaces for those on a night out.
As part of the campaign, posters will be displayed in venues warning offenders their behaviour won’t be tolerated and encouraging victims to report sexual assaults.
The posters are gender neutral as police recognise it is not just women who are the victims of sexual assaults.
One of the campaign posters that are being displayed in venues across the city
You can report a sexual assault to the police online or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, or in an emergency always call 999.
For more advice and support, visit www.thisisnotanexcuse.org.
Read more: Bristol student leads fight against sexual assault
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