Don't watch street harassment in silence - ask 'Are you Okay?'

you should do it from a distance! never get close enough to endanger yourself.

I was in a cafe with a friend once when one man assaulted another and a fight started. I couldn't just watch. I stuck my head out of the door and shouted '*the police are on the way'* I quickly sat down again before being seen and they ran off!

I think this is an ill thought out campaign.
This is something the Police should be dealing with not members of the public.

Agreed some young people may have the strength to deal with an aggressor but if there is a knife involved then there is never going to be a happy ending.

Sadly I know what it’s like to have a knife held at my throat.
You never know how a situation any play out.

Dil asked a woman if she was ok, she was being held by throat by a man who was shouting abuse at her.
The man turned and knocked Dil out with one punch. Dil has heart issues and seizures.
Police arrived arrested man and Dil was in hosp for two days we had to look after baby for a week whilst she recovered.
Turns out man was husband and
police say because wife obviously doesn't want to give statement and if it went to court the man's solilitor would use Dil's illnesses against her CPS will probably not press charges. So, 'no'walk on by and just ring police don't ask if ok.

way back in time I got off of a bus one night from work and heard a commotion over the road, a gang of young men were attacking one on his own,, I shouted out loud to them and signalled the lone one to come accross which he did, i said keep walking and we walked quickly off I chatted like I new him.... i saved him from a beating and I sometimes think of that occasion and him! I was a young 18yr old.

That's awful. Those poor good Samaritans. I hope your DGS is fully recovered.

My grandson, (25) this year saw a teenage girl being ‘harassed’ by four youths about 9.00pm. When he intervened, the youths set on him. Kicked him unconscious and broke a rib. Market town in the West Country, little police present, and CCTVs not working. It is getting worse - another friend (55yo and very gentle) was attacked, a month later coming out of a pub - ended up on life support - which was turned off after a month - he left six children. The man who did it, let out on bail WHY, ? courts are full, and not enough police on duty in towns - we need to go back to police patrols in towns, and perhaps hard labour if convicted.

I have intervened a couple of times and will continue to , I just think it is the right thing to do , as I hope someone would do the same if I needed help .

The more people stand by and do nothing the more people get away with things

This.

I think I would have to get involved as that was how I was brought up, and I would hope that others would get involved if I was being attacked or abused or whatever. The more people stand by and do nothing the more people get away with things. I realise that you can be putting your own life on the line by speaking out, but what's the alternative? Just let the thugs get away? It is easier now that most people have mobile phones and can call the police.

I'd always step in I'm quite intimidating in full do not mess with me mode

I once turned up at a nightclub and saw a large crowd gathered as there was a fight. As I went towards the group I saw my daughter in the middle of the 2 men, remonstrating with one of them. I dashed forward, grabbed her and headed back to the car where she joined me with one of the men. She asked me to take him home on our way home. It turned out she didn't know him but had stepped in to rescue him as the other guy was bigger and stronger. I didn't know whether to praise her or crown her!
I once stopped in the car after pubs closed beside a couple where the man was crowding a woman and shouting at her whilst she sobbed. I asked if she was ok and the man answered that everything was ok. I told him I was asking the woman and I wouldn't be going anywhere until she said she was alright. She said she was, I asked her if she was sure and when she said she was, I left. I went back a few minutes later but they were gone.
We called the police when we heard our neighbours child shout to her Dad to stop hurting her Mummy. It was the best thing we did as the wife realised that she couldn't carry on in her abusive relationship. Her husband was escorted off the property by the police and never returned. Victim Support were wonderful and she went on to get her divorce.

I was very grateful when someone asked me if I was OK on a train in Italy when a man had sat opposite me and was being very intrusive.

I always ask if I see someone possibly needing help, usually loudly from a distance so there is no hiding the fact that something isn't right.

I saw a couple outside my house and across the road he was pushing and yelling at her, I went to my front door with my phone and shouted at the girl are you ok, he told me to f …off. I held up the phone and said you are on video and I will now call the police. He let her go and ran off, she came over and we called the police. It would seem he was an ex who wouldn’t leave her alone. I think I would only intervene from a distance at my age.

I once saw a man take another chap by the throat. There were other people there but I didn't stop to think and stepped forward and said loudly "Stop it! Stop it now!" and the aggressor walked away. I also think we need to be ready to dial 999 if we see a crash or someone e.g. lying on the ground unattended and in distress. The risk is that we think someone else will have called and do not take action.

I would of course call the police. In the gun-happy US direct intervention is usually unwise unless you are quite sure you have a complete grasp of the situation.

I'm only 4' 10" tall but when I was younger intervened a few times. However, my mobility is abysmal nowadays after aan accident in 2010 and arthritis in both knees. I couldn't consider a 'getaway' nowadays so I'd zip my lips now. ☹?

I believe that, unless I was in an isolated place, or the abuser/harasser was armed, I would always intervene.

It seems to be reported more and more often that people try to play the good Samaritan and end up stabbed to death, so please think carefully and preferably call the police.

years ago my neighbour was in an abusive relationship and i would hear her crying for help and she was always covered in bruises. The police used to come and listen inside my house and after this started happening she eventually she managed to leave him, I don't think it was very easy for her though

This is all very depressing.

I believe Germanshepherdsmum is right and when you get older and slower you have to consider the circumstances and the risk to yourself. I live alone and if someone assaulted me I might never recover. There are younger and fitter people in the world so let them intervene.

I live in a neighbourhood with two distinct ethnic groups/different religions who often dont get on. Ive watched several apparently heated interactions on my cctv cameras but not been tempted to intervene or go outside. If the people need suport they have their own group to turn to. It may well be a "cultural" disagreement which I dont understand because I dont speak the language.

I keep out of it.

Well done Saggi, so glad you weren't hurt, apart from bruised knuckles perhaps!

I once heard an awful row from next door and went outside with my son to see a weeping young woman in the street and her partner throwing her clothes out of the window. I asked if she was ok and invited her into my house out of the rain. She declined and he came rushing out to tell us his side of the story. I said we didn’t need to know their business but we weren’t used to that kind of behaviour in our quiet street ( these two were fairly recent residents) He was not English and was obviously very drunk. He wanted to take my son for a drink to explain. My son said no thanks and perhaps a black coffee might be a wiser choice, followed by an apology to his partner. They moved away soon afterwards much to our relief.

Many years ago I was walking through a market when a man started bullying a woman, shouting and swearing and slapping her. Then he punched her in the face knocking her to the ground, and began kicking her. That was the last straw for me, I couldn't believe that people were just standing by watching, even men. I just ran at him and shoved him hard and kept shoving him away from her. Only then did two men grab his arms and hold on to him. I went to help the woman who was bleeding a lot. She then started on me screaming "leave my 'usband alone!" I told her he'd probably broken her nose, she said "So what it's my bloody nose" It most certainly was! A nearby stallholder told me not to bother about her, she liked being his punchbag! Seems it was a regular occurrence.

Another time I intervened to help an elderly lady who was being harassed by to teenage boys. She looked very frightened. One of them said "Yeah, what you going to do then?" I had no idea what I would do but replied "Sure you want to risk finding out?" It was enough to make them think twice and walk away. I walker her home and she was very thankful I had been there.

Would I do either of those things now? I honestly don't know. I was younger then, impulsive, strong and fast on my feet. I'm a lot older now, weaker and slower, but still impulsive. I like to think I would still do something if only make a lot of noise or call the police, I don't think I could stand by and ignore it. I hope I never have to make that decision.

My daughter intervened in a disagreement and was knocked to the floor by a swinging punch from one person at the other!