Backlash As Women Given Personal Alarms Following Sabina Nessa's Death

More than 200 personal safety alarms have been handed out in the area where Sabina Nessa was found dead, it has been revealed.

Sabina Nessa, 28, is believed to have been murdered as she walked home through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on Friday night. Her body was found on Saturday.

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With the case being treated as a murder investigation, authorities have handed out more than 200 personal alarms, which can be attached to keys, bags or be held in the hand.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: "We have been distributing these alarms at events since 2019, but have issued over 200 alarms to women and vulnerable residents over the last two days particularly in the Kidbrooke area.

"The team will continue to do this over the coming weeks, and further alarms will be purchased to ensure we can provide these to as many residents as we can."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that safety leaflets are also being handed out in the local area, urging people to avoid walking alone at night.

Following the alarms, people have been speaking out on social media, urging the cause to be addressed, rather than the victims.

Journalist Emily Clarkson wrote on Instagram: "This is an information sheet printed from the MET police website offering advice on how to prevent an attack that's been handed out to women by a community group.

"A list of things WE ALREADY KNOW. Things we've known our whole lives because we have had to. But it's not enough. Nor should it be our jobs to protect ourselves.

"This shouldn't be our responsibility and it's not our behaviour that you need to change. Our behaviour is not the problem. It is MEN's behaviour that is the problem. Stop telling victims what to do and start talking to the perpetrators.

Emily Clarkson/Instagram)

"Stop telling women how not to be attacked and stop men from attacking us. Educate them better. Punish them better. And change the narrative. This isn't violence against women. It's male violence. And it is not a women's issue. It's a men's issue."

Meanwhile another person wrote on Twitter: "I'll say it again: Violence against Women is not an issue of women’s safety, it’s an issue of male violence.

"Handing out alarms & increasing street lighting merely shines a brighter light on the inadequacy of the state’s response."

Another said: "Totally agree! When will we start to address male violence against women? Every 3 days a woman is killed by a man.

"It will take an acknowledgement of address a toxic culture that exists in society."

Meanwhile Isabelle Younane, Head of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs at Women's Aid told Tyla: “Increasing street lighting, personal safety alarms and CCTV may be well intentioned, but will do nothing to tackle the deep-seated attitudes that drive male violence and abuse against women and girls, neither will they support women to seek redress.

"Holding women and girls accountable for managing their safety rather than tackling the men who are threatening it will not eradicate VAWG. We need to prevent it from happening in the first place.

"Beyond the compulsory rollout of Relationships and Sex Education, the full implementation of a ‘Whole School Approach’ must be prioritised.

"This approach should be based in human rights principles and focused on VAWG – this will ensure it addresses inequality and power and is implemented with a view to shifting attitudes and cultures of tolerance, normalisation and acceptance of VAWG as part of women and girls’ everyday lives.”

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Police are urging anyone who might have been in the park at the time of the incident - and noticed anything suspicious - to make contact.

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Garrity said: “Sabina was found near the OneSpace community centre which we know is a facility used by lots of people and we would ask anyone who was in or around the area and who may have any information to come forward."

Denise Scott-McDonald, Deputy Leader of the Council added: "We are appalled by the senseless murder of Sabina, a much-loved teacher who was killed while simply walking home through a park. This brutal and terrible attack reminds us why tackling violence against all women needs to be at the top of everyone’s agenda."

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Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot.

@lucedevine