Staying Safe on Dark Nights (Part 1): 7 Smart Ways to Feel Confident After Dark

Now that the clocks have gone back and evenings are darker earlier, many people are feeling that familiar unease about being out after dark.

In this episode of the Self Defence and Personal Safety for Women podcast, Julie Waite and Dene Josham, co-founders of Streetwise Defence, share how to stay safe and feel more confident when the nights draw in - whether you’re walking home from work, going for a run, or getting off a late train.

Dene - a former Royal Marine, 30-year security professional and ex-bodyguard to stars including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Russell Crowe - brings practical expertise from decades of front-line protection work.

Julie - a women’s safety advocate and survivor with lived experience of fear and rebuilding confidence - offers the psychological and emotional perspective that makes safety feel real and achievable.

Together they share 7 smart ways to stay safe on dark nights, blending real-world tactics with mindset tools you can use straight away.

You’ll learn:
 • Why darkness heightens alertness - and how to manage it
 • How to plan safer routes and vary your routine
 • Simple gadgets that help you feel prepared
 • When to trust your instincts and act early
 • How to walk tall and project confidence

A 2024 ITV-commissioned survey found that 81% of young women aged 18–25 feel unsafe walking home at night.

This episode tackles that reality head-on - showing that awareness, preparation and confidence are the real antidotes to fear.

🎧 Stay tuned for Part 2, where Julie and Dene explore gut instinct, how to be more streetwise and how to spot trouble before it starts.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Blog: 7 Step Guide to Staying Safe on Dark Nights
  
  
• Training: Self Defence for Women online course
  
  
• Related episode: What to Do If You’re Being Followed

Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety - and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

Chapters

• 0:00 Planning Ahead for Safety
• 6:57 Navigating Safety in Dark Evenings
• 15:11 Being Prepared with Gadgets and Strategies
• 25:55 Understanding Personal Safety and Mobility
• 27:52 Pausing for part 2

Transcript

Julie Waite (00:00)

As the evenings draw in and it starts getting dark earlier, you really notice how different familiar routes can feel. Quieter, emptier and sometimes just that bit more unnerving. Even though I talk about personal safety every day, the darker evenings always seem to change how we move through the world. And I'm not alone in that.

A survey commissioned by ITV last year found that 81 % of young women aged 18 to 25 say they feel unsafe walking home in the dark. That's 8 in 10 and it shows this isn't just about fear, it's about reality. The darkness changes how we feel and how we move through the world.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (00:39)

you

Julie Waite (00:42)

So as the nights draw in, we thought it was the perfect time to share some practical, confidence boosting ways to stay safe on dark nights. Whether you're walking the dog, heading home from work, going for a run or

Dene - Streetwise Defence (00:54)

you

Julie Waite (00:55)

getting off the train late. I'm Julie Waite, Women's Safety Advocate and co-founder of Streetwise Defence.

and alongside me is Dene Josham, a 30-year security professional and former bodyguard to stars including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Russell Crowe. Together, we're here to give you real-world safety strategies, expert insights and practical tips that help you feel more confident wherever life takes you.

So Dene, even when you know what you're doing and where you're going, the dark just feels different. Why is that? What do you think about that? And I'd also be interested to get your perspective as a man, what it is like going out in the dark on your own.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (01:41)

Yeah, I think, well, we're visual creatures, so.

it's just built in us. You know, our brains are still very prehistoric and we're built to survive. And when it's dark, obviously that something within us triggers us to sort of pay more attention to be more tuned in. And that's why I think it's just hardwired in us because we're, you know, we're survivors and that's potentially can pose as danger. And yeah, I mean, for me,

Julie Waite (02:08)

Yeah.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (02:11)

when you said that, does it affect me as a man? Yeah, massively, not to the extent that women, like it does women, but for instance, last week I was in London training, I was at a hotel, I could see where it was, but I'd have to go down a alleyway. Now I'd already looked at Google street maps and that, so I had an idea of where I was going, and I'd looked down there, it was quite well lit, and I just thought, do know what, I know I can go around, it was a little bit longer, but I thought,

I'm more comfortable doing that than walking down the alleyway because you kind of go alleyway, yeah it's lit, it looks okay, but I don't know if there's any alleyways off it, you know, it to me just felt wrong and I thought right I'll go a little bit longer around to get to the hotel. But yeah, does, I think it affects us all. It's just a natural instinct in us to, you know, darkness can hide danger. Yeah.

Julie Waite (02:58)

Mm.

Yeah, it's a biological thing, isn't it? Instinct,

survival mechanism. And it is that thought that is because you can't see, it's the unknown, the fear of the unknown. Whereas obviously in the daytime, you know, that alleyway you'd probably be able to see right the way down and through and clear through it.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (03:15)

Yeah.

yeah, I hope people take a lot from this because, you know, as a big bloke, yeah, I still concerned when it's dark and I know it poses potential dangers because people can hide and manipulate situations and the environment. So, yeah, it is in my mind.

Julie Waite (03:39)

I think most people feel some element of fear when they go out at night, especially, I know a lot of women do, myself included. Even when you know what we know, there's still, you're still slightly, you're on a higher level of alert. You know, when I go out, I wouldn't say I'm scared, it depends where I am, but you're on a higher level of alert, and I think that is normal and natural, but you don't want it to become so that you're,

like you don't want to go out and you're scared to go out and you've got panic and adrenaline running through you every time you're out because that's not good and that's not healthy. It's about being switched on enough to know that you need to be looking and noticing what's going on but without actually living in fear. So I think that's today what we're going to do. We're going to go through some tips and advice to help people manage those dark evenings so that you'll still feel some level of

Dene - Streetwise Defence (04:06)

you

Yeah.

Julie Waite (04:36)

uncertainty and heightened awareness, but you won't be like going out feeling scared because that's not nice for anyone.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (04:43)

No, definitely. I think we have to realize everything has an element of risk. know, whether you're boiling a kettle, whether you're walking on an icy path and you have to look at it, I think like that you go, okay, there's another element of risk. I'm aware of it and that's the big thing. If you're, I think for us and other people in the industry, because you're more aware of how things really happen, I don't think I'm paranoid. I'm just more aware and observant of different situations where I go, okay.

I'm aware that this might be a problem point or I'm in this environment so I need to sort of tune in a bit more rather than probably maybe like if you're not aware you kind of oblivious you can be oblivious to it and that's not a judgment it's just you know if you don't know you don't know.

Julie Waite (05:24)

Mm.

And think it's also worth saying that statistically you're actually more likely to be assaulted in the summer, that's what statistics say, when people are out and staying out longer. There's been maybe like people out daytime drinking. You may be not paying attention to what's going around you. So even though it is dark outside and you feel fearful, statistically you are less likely to be assaulted during the darker months as well, because I think

you know, you do take more precaution, you stay at home, you might get a lift, whereas in the summer you might walk somewhere on your own. So I hope people might take a bit of comfort from that as well.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (06:07)

Yeah, you've got to look at how our habits change. As I get older, my habits change. I see it with my mom who's 84 now, her habits change. So winter habits are very different to summertime habits. So that's the darkness. think, we're more at danger, which potentially can be. But when you look at the statistics, you might be potentially more at danger at home or at the workplace, because especially for women, they're the most...

two dangerous places for women, which is insane to say, but that's what the statistics say. So if you're spending more time at home because you're not going out with your friends or socializing or doing stuff because it's dark and you're sort of staying home, then you might be at more risk by a partner or somebody known to your family member, which that's the reality, unfortunately. So the dangers change, yeah.

Julie Waite (06:35)

Mm.

So the first section we'll look at is about planning ahead. What are some things that people can do to plan ahead when they're going out on a dark night to keep themselves safer?

Dene - Streetwise Defence (07:08)

Is it necessary? You know, think about it. Look at the route you're going to take. Have you been there before? What kind of knowledge have you got? The what if game, you know, running through things in a calm environment where you sort of go, okay, what would happen if I was walking down that this happened, that happened.

So it's understanding where you're going. Like I did the other day, I looked at Google Maps Street View just to get an idea of where I'm actually going. So I can mark sort of like, okay, I'm going to go up there and there's going to be a Costa coffee or a shop that and like, okay, when I get there, I need to turn left. Understanding the ways and options you've got shortcuts.

depending I'm not a massive fan of because it like incident the other day when we was training a company one of the person said that that a lot of people come on go on the tube and the way they go they actually go under a bypass which the lights aren't working so okay under the bypass the lights aren't working you know and there was a different route round but what the company did is they contacted local authorities and said look under this bypass the lights aren't working so actually

Julie Waite (08:10)

Hmm.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (08:20)

the local authorities went and put all new light bulbs in, which totally changed the dynamics of that underpass. And obviously saying to them there is like, okay, if you're going to use that and there's lights are on, that's a lot better for you. Can you go in small groups or in twos or something, safety in numbers? Yeah, it's just a little bit of forward thinking to looking at your options and going, okay, what's the best option for me?

Julie Waite (08:39)

Yeah.

Yeah, I think the shortcuts thing is a big one. It's like, it's so tempting when you want to get home or you want to get to somewhere to think, ⁓ it'll be all right. You know, I'll just go on this shortcut.

But I remember the very first self-defense training that I sat in on with you. I remember there was a girl in her twenties who shared a story of her and she was actually with her friends. They took a shortcut, I think they'd been out to get pizza or something. They took a shortcut across a park at night. Again, kind of knowing that it's probably not a good idea to go across a dark park at night. And they got mugged and then...

A few weeks later, they'd gone out on the... They found themselves in the same situation and they said to themselves, well, it won't happen twice. And they took the shortcut across the park and they got mugged again. And it's just... It's just not worth it. I always say to myself, I always have this little moment when I say to myself...

No, just like, if it takes a bit longer, if you have to like take that extra few minutes to do the thing that's going to keep you safer or to go a different route or to stop and make a call or to ask for help or whatever it is, just always take the option, even though it might inconvenience you a bit, that's going to keep you safer.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (10:13)

Definitely. It's understanding your area as well.

I know there is websites where you can check post codes to find out what's going on in the area and it's that knowledge of where you are where you might need to avoid a bit like that, you know for any park at night for me, it's uncomfortable and I avoid it at all costs. So can I be smarter and look kind of it like that to go? Okay, is that I need to I'm in a rush. It's like but in the main thing is getting home being safe.

Julie Waite (10:24)

you

Dene - Streetwise Defence (10:45)

So it's sort of pausing sometimes and stopping yourself from overriding your instincts to go, I'm just being daft. I've walked through there many times. Oh, it's a little bit dark. I'm going to be okay. You might be okay, but is there a smarter way, smarter option for you? And it's being kinder to you. Shouldn't have to do with that, but reality is reality. It's like, okay, how can I be smarter for myself to stay safe? And also, you know, and the variant stuff as well, you know, I always say to...

Julie Waite (11:08)

Yeah.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (11:12)

dog walkers and you know, varying your routines and stuff and times you go out, you know, just to mix it up a bit and have that, you know, you're not setting a pattern, you're not setting a behavior, you're kind of mixing it up a little bit so you're, you're being kinder, safer to yourself.

Julie Waite (11:29)

Yeah, and I think that's understanding how attacks and things happen, some of them will be opportunistic, but some of them will be planned and that might just mean that someone sees you from their home or from their work or from wherever they are jogging or getting off the train or walking the dog at the same place every night and then it becomes much easier for them to plan an attack.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (11:37)

Yeah. Yeah.

Julie Waite (11:58)

Whereas if you are going out at slightly different times, running a different route, know, switching things up a bit, then, that can really help you avoid those kind of situations.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (12:11)

Yeah, that's the horrible thing, isn't it? You know, bad predators hunt other people and they're gonna, they're gonna put everything in their favour. I know from the bodyguarding days, setting routines is a bad thing because if somebody's watching us,

and they've got something, a bad intention or you know, whether it's paparazzi waiting for a picture that we don't want them to have with a client, then just mixing it up a little bit, just being aware of what you do. I'm sure people listen to this, they walk dogs, I'm sure they do things different in the winter than in the summer. And I think that's a smart thing. You're adjusting to what's going on and you're being more switched on to how you

Julie Waite (12:36)

Hmm.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (12:54)

do your daily activities. .

Julie Waite (12:56)

Yeah, just on what you said

before on playing the what if game, is what we talk about is going through different scenarios in your head and thinking about what you would do. I find this really helpful. it's almost like that thing where, know, where you get an athlete and they visualize the outcome that they want for, know, for the for the race or whatever it is. It's about.

going through different situations, for example, if you go jogging every evening, going through the situation and just thinking, well, what would happen if someone stopped me? What would happen if someone was following me? What would happen if a car pulled up? All the different situations and just having in your mind a little plan of what you would do.

And then that means that if that situation should happen to you, you should then react in the way you want to react. Because we often get asked by people, what if I freeze? What should I do? You know, how can I stop myself from freezing? And of course, you never truly know what you're going to do in a given situation. But if you can prepare mentally for a situation, then instead of just being in an absolute panic because

a car has started crawling behind you, following you, and that you've never even thought what you would do if that would happen, you've got an idea of like, there's something in the back of your head where your subconscious can go, okay, I've sat and thought if a car starts crawling behind me, this is what I'm gonna do.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (14:33)

Yeah,

Julie Waite (14:35)

So I think that's good, just to spend a bit of time. It's not a very nice thing to do, but in all your situations

Dene - Streetwise Defence (14:35)

no

Julie Waite (14:40)

in life, if you spend a bit of time thinking about what would I do if...

Dene - Streetwise Defence (14:46)

Yeah, and having them conversations with people you trust as well. Like I always say in group sessions and I'm like, talk to each other. If you trust each other and you're friends, then you can talk about uncomfortable situations and you don't know what other people might share. They might have experienced that and I did this and that really worked. And you go, I never thought of that. ⁓

open discussion, like you said then, if you was ever in a situation you've experienced before, if you thought about it, not saying, you still might freeze, but you've thought about it, so it's gonna be in your subconscious somewhere, and hopefully in that situation, you'd recall it and go, all right, I could do this and do that. So you've got, like you said there, you've got a bit of a game plan there, and you've got something to work off.

Julie Waite (15:31)

Hmm.

Yeah. So the next section that we wanted to look at was about being prepared. So small things that you can do or things you can take with you that will help you feel safer on dark nights. I want to kick this off with my favorite little gadget that I just, I'm giggling a bit because ⁓ my kids laugh at me because I'm so obsessed with this little torch that I've got. It's like.

Honestly, it really... to take a little torch out with you when you go dog walking, jogging, whatever, really changes how you feel about the dark. And I found this little torch. I will link the blog below. We've got a blog on self-defense gadgets.

and I've got the link in there. It's a little torch. You can recharge it just by plugging it into like your, you know, your phone charger. It is super, super powerful. It's like under 10 pounds, super powerful. It's got all these different modes, like a strobing mode, and it's even got an SOS mode where it does like more coding SOS. I'm not sure I'd ever use that, but it is so bright that it helps me feel more confident. One in that I can see all around me and if there's an area

that I'm coming up to you know a bit further ahead I can just shine the torch and I can immediately see is there someone in that corner or is there not it also makes me feel more confident in that I think you look more confident when you're walking along with a torch because you're obviously someone that takes your safety seriously and then potentially as well it is so bright like I know just from kind of ⁓

Dene - Streetwise Defence (17:13)

Okay.

Julie Waite (17:15)

messing about with the kids. If you put that torch on, I'm laughing, I actually got one of them the other day, had their phone, and I was trying to get the phone off them as you often do with teenage kids, and the torch was on the side, and I picked it up, and I just shone it at them, and I was like, I just went, stand down, and they put the torch in their face, and they were like, ⁓ my-

Dene - Streetwise Defence (17:27)

you

Julie Waite (17:35)

it was so bright like you have to kind of cover your eyes with it so potentially even with that

you could you know hold it in someone's eyes or whatever but I'm getting a bit overexcited about this torch but compared with previous years when I've gone out in the dark without a torch I'd feel so much more at ease with this and just to say don't use the torch on your phone because

you could potentially be setting yourself up for people that want to snatch a phone, like an opportunist that wants to snatch a phone. So that's my number

Dene - Streetwise Defence (18:08)

Yeah. Yeah.

Julie Waite (18:11)

one thing for being prepared.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (18:13)

Yeah,

it's that looking at what you're doing and what can help you. So yeah, Dark Nights, a good, whatever torch you can afford, but the more powerful one, like you can light up further distance. Like you said, then you've taken precautions, you've actually thought, ⁓ got a light. So again, you've kind of putting yourself ⁓ not above, but more prepared than somebody who hasn't got a torch. So again, you're kind of, you know, highlighting self.

that you've thought about it, you've got a torch ⁓ and you know, it can really help you. Yeah, it's gonna highlight if anybody's lurking about. Yeah, it's a good thing. It's all things like little things that potentially can help you. You know, in whatever you're doing, giving it that little bit of time and going, okay, I can get a good torch for not a lot of money, but that can really help me in making sure it's charged up and everything. So yeah.

Julie Waite (18:43)

Mm.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think also, ⁓ again, we've got other podcast episodes on this, on like self-defense gadgets, having something like a personal safety alarm, having that on your bag or, you know, if you're running, having it on your running gear, that can help you feel safer and it's something that you could activate as a deterrent. We...

you know we always say don't rely on these because you know a safety alarm can't fight someone off and there's no guarantee that anyone will come but

Dene - Streetwise Defence (19:36)

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Julie Waite (19:42)

it could potentially deter someone because they are very loud and again the one that we recommend that's in our blog that also has a strobing light on it so i don't see why you wouldn't carry one with you it's just something extra to have

Dene - Streetwise Defence (19:56)

I think that's that realization that they can help you. But like you said, then don't 100 % rely on them. know, education yourself, trusting yourself, understanding yourself and leveling your skills up. Because you have to remember that potentially these are

People who've done stuff before that could be very first at it. So we have to kind of level our skills up as well You know like with a torch people, know, like that we can shine in somebody's eyes Yeah, you can it might momentarily stun them, but it doesn't mean it's gonna stop him a bit like an alarm You can pull alarm and and depending where you are what what's going on? It might not make any difference. So it's like okay that could help me but not 100 % reliant apart from being reliant on yourself

Julie Waite (20:37)

Yeah, I think they're all little extra things that when you're talking about like 10, 20 pounds for these gadgets, I don't see why you wouldn't take them with you as just an extra thing that you can have. Phone apps as well. I'm not so big on phone apps, I think.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (20:39)

Hmm.

Julie Waite (20:57)

One, because you then have to try and, you know, you'd have to have the phone ready to activate an alarm. And when you're activating an alarm on a phone, you then, the person or people who are in your group, your emergency group, like, what are they going to do? How are they going to get to you in that situation? I mean, yes, have a phone, you know, have some tracking on your phone and all of that. Again, there's no reason why you can't have it, but I'm not really convinced that that's going to do much in the moment.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (21:01)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Julie Waite (21:27)

going to deter anyone, it's not going to make any noise and you potentially then are wasting time trying to get the phone and activate it unless there's like enough a way to do that really quickly.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (21:38)

You've got to look at it in reality and that's where a lot of things can fall down. Like you said, a panic app, if you get a chance to press it, have you got a signal? Whoever it's going to, have they got a signal? How long are they going to get to get to you? All these things, you've got to realize potentially they might not work or do they actually work in a real situation? Have you used them? Have you practiced with them? Like a torch, it's great, but if you've only got it 10 % charged and you're out and then it suddenly dies on you, it's looking at it going, okay, what?

Julie Waite (21:46)

Yeah.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (22:08)

like with alarms and stuff, I've got alarm on my bag, when's the last time you used it? Did you charge it? How are the batteries? So, you know, it's looking at things like that as well in the real world to go, what is the reality of this? So panic, like people, oh, I've got a panic app, I'm good. It's like, yeah, but are you going to get a chance to get it out of your pocket? You know, especially if you're really, adrenalized and, you know, got fear racing through your body and you're trying to casually put out your phone, oh yeah, I press an app.

Julie Waite (22:21)

Mm.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (22:35)

or know ring 999 all them simple things when you're calm and there's no danger are quite easy to do but when you're in that stress situation you might not be you might drop the phone you might not be able to find your torch or alarm so it's looking at it realistically as well

Julie Waite (22:53)

Mm-hmm.

Other things you can do is, we talked about the phone there, but if you are going out, make sure it's fully charged. So if you do find yourself somewhere and you maybe need to call for someone to come and pick you up or call for some help, know, your battery's not dead. We always say memorize a number, memorize someone's phone number so that if your phone gets stolen or dies and you need to call for help or you need to ask someone to call for help for you,

Dene - Streetwise Defence (23:01)

You

Julie Waite (23:23)

you've got a number that you can call.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (23:26)

Yeah, I was in London the other day and then, you if you're driving about, I was thinking, if you're driving about and you get a flat tire, like I have carrier, it's like a, I can't remember the word for it, you put it on your tire, you blow it up, it puts rubber stuff in it and it's to get you home.

Julie Waite (23:41)

pump thing.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (23:44)

So things like that when you're out, know, it's like, do I want to change a tire at two in the morning? Depends where I am, why I'm at two and all these other things. So that could be a quick fix to go, right, can put that on, can get him a car, put that on, I can fill the tire up and hopefully it'll stop the puncture. I can get home. Filling that tire up will take me maybe a minute rather than, ⁓ I've got to take the tire off. So all right, might knock him a tire, but I'm home, I'm safe and okay, it's gonna cost me 50 quid for a tire, but.

I've taken myself out of being trying to get a tire off, faff about and you know, whatever what's going on. So I've reduced that element for the offset of, okay, I've got to buy a new tire. And also what just popped in my head there, I remember years ago, you know, working on nightclubs and pubs and stuff like that. There were some women that, and it always used to make me smile because they come out of the club and before they went out, they'd pull out a pair of flat shoes they'd have their high heels on and everything and they'd put flat shoes on and I'm like, and she goes, oh no, you know,

Julie Waite (24:37)

Mm.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (24:41)

my feet are really hurting. But also behind that, are you gonna run faster in a pair of flat shoes and a pair of three, four inch high heels? So little things that I thought, yeah, that's a smart thing to do because you're walking home. How do high heels serve you when you're walking home? A pair of flat shoes probably serve you better.

Julie Waite (24:50)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, definitely. think if you can think about what you're wearing and, staying warm, making sure you've got footwear that you could run in if you need to run. Running is to me, running is one of the main things, main escape, main kind of self-defense options that you have if you're out on your own, you know, walking the dog or walking home.

You don't want to be getting into fights before all else you run. And you'd know instantly if you've got an issue because they don't have to keep up with you. And if you think about, can I run fast in this, in whatever it is? Or then like you said, do I need to take a change of shoes when I come out of work and I've got that walk from the train or whatever? Do I put some shoes on that I could run in?

Dene - Streetwise Defence (25:57)

Yeah, you know, and I don't think you, it's like, ⁓ I don't want to get in a fight. It's not, you know, in that situation, something happens. isn't a fight, is it? It's violence. It's of a different level. Also, that's if you can run. Now I did some workshops at WI a few weeks ago.

Julie Waite (26:06)

No, no.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (26:17)

And one of the ladies, one of her concerns was she was a little bit older, she restricted mobility, and she was like asking me what if somebody comes up behind me and I'm like, well, okay. It's understanding that she didn't have the ability to run. So like I said to her, can you adjust where you go and what you do so it's more friendly towards you. she was well aware of a

physical ability. So running wasn't an option. So okay, if that's not an option, what else do I need to consider or do to help me? So it's again, understanding yourself in it, you know, if you can't run you have that ability or you're restricted or whatever, then okay, you've got to work this, you've got to work it out differently for you. It might not be straightforward.

Julie Waite (26:57)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, and I think that's where then

some of those other things like the alarm and things like that could help someone in that situation because they have at least got an option that if someone's following them and they feel uncomfortable they could activate that alarm which may deter them and may attract attention of other people around them rather than thinking I've not got any options and there's nothing I can do because there's always something you can do.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (27:31)

Yeah, it's an uncomfortable truth, isn't it? It's probably not some of the answers people were hoping for, but you're dealing with reality. It's like if you've got to go out with your friend walking because you're safer, then, you know.

That's reality, isn't it? And it shouldn't be, but it is. And that's what you've got to look at objectively and analyze and go, actually, when it's winter, I'm not going to do that because ⁓ I feel more at risk and I'm not comfortable. I need to do something different.

Julie Waite (28:01)

So we are going to pause there and we are going to continue our discussion in part two, which will be coming soon. There's a lot to get through, a lot to take in. We want you to be able to digest all of this, make some changes in your daily life, and you can catch up if you don't already follow us.

You can do that by subscribing, whatever platform you're on, whether you're on Apple, Spotify, Amazon. If you subscribe, then you will automatically see our next episode pop up. And until next time, stay safe.