CONCERNS have recently been raised about the safety of students in Oxford, after an Oxford University student was assaulted.
The attack happened in the early hours of the morning, on 17th February. A press report issued by Thames Valley Policy stated, “The victim, a 21-year-old woman, was walking along Walton Street at about 3.49am when she was approached by a man, who dragged her into a nearby alleyway.”
Investigating officer Det. Con. Darren Pomroy, of Local CID in Oxford, said: “This was clearly a very frightening ordeal for the victim, but she showed great bravery in fighting the man off, and thankfully she was unharmed. A man heard the victim’s screams and came to her assistance after the offender had run off.”
Efforts have been made to try to raise awareness of the importance of safety amongst students. Suzanne Holsomback, the OUSU VP for Women, told Cherwell, “Night safety is an important issue and the Thames Valley Police worked diligently at the beginning of Michaelmas to raise awareness of how to keep your belongings and self safe in Oxford, especially if this term was your first time away from home or in another country. The effort from somecolleges is great and I hope more do so. I would recommend keeping the focus on real statistics and information.
“Much night safety information tells women in particular, ‘don’t get raped!’ This is victim blaming and it ignores that we do not tell perpetrators, ‘don’t rape!’
“Most sexual assaults are by people the survivor knows. It is more likely to be assaulted by your partner or an acquaintance than a stranger hiding in the bushes. The National Union of Students Hidden Marks report says that the majority of women who experienced serious sexual assault while at university were attacked in someone’s home.
“I think night safety needs to include discussions about sexual consent as well as sexual abuse (non-violent acts to violent acts) and domestic abuse, so all genders can feel safe in their homes and while socialising at night.”
Several colleges, including Keble and LMH, have sent emails out to students warning about the potential dangers which students face when out at night.
Benedict Hardy, a student at Somerville College, said, “I’m sure the colleges sending these emails out handled it very sensitively, but it’s somewhat condescending to suggest that anyone being attacked wasn’t already taking every precaution possible not to be attacked.”
However another student from Balliol College argued that the emails sent to students would have a positive effect, telling Cherwell, “I think that it’s good that some colleges are warning students to be careful in Oxford. Although it’s never ever the victim’s fault if they get attacked, I don’t think that warning students to be careful and walk home together is victim blaming.”
The police are appealing for any witnesses who saw the attack to come forward and contact Det. Con. Pomroy via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101,, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
