Bystander intervention
Sometimes, a situation does not feel right. You might:
- hear a friend make an inappropriate comment
- spot someone being harassed at a party or club
There are two parts to being an active bystander. The first is being aware of when someone’s behaviour is inappropriate or threatening. The second part is choosing to challenge this behaviour. You do not need to challenge them directly if you do not feel comfortable. You can get someone to help you such as a friend or someone in authority. This could include staff at a bar.
Research shows that bystander intervention can be an effective way of stopping sexual assault before it happens.
We have developed an online module to provide you with information and guidance on being an active bystander. This includes guidance on how to intervene safely. Anyone in the county can sign up to take part and it only takes around 45 minutes to complete.