For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
This is getting so frustratingly common on the Camino, a suggestion to the local male law enforcement, dress as women & give the sorry bugger something to fear.
If making a visit to the local police is too intimidating, you can use the Spanish government mobile app Alertcops, which is in English--to report an accident, burglary, mugging or sexual offence. Ivar gave information on the app here on this forum. I easily downloaded it in the spring, 'just in case'--didn't need it, but was glad to have the reassurance.
I hope you reported that @CaminoDebrita.
@Lvra I believe these kinds of things need to be reported to Police in order to (possibly) prevent that person from assaulting another.
I apologize. I did not realize the severity of the person's behaviorI think there is a big difference between trying to make conversation and publicly masturbating, lets not try and downplay this girls bad experience. And again please report all these incidents to the local police.
I apologize. I did not realize the severity of the person's behavior
It did come up when I was in the police department reporting that my friend's backpack was stolen from the Convent in Leon.
Just as we were going through the archway of the convent was one said fellow took me by both shoulders and moved in for a full-on lip kiss. Then, right after he went flying backward (after I shoved him with both hands), we entered the convent to find my friend's pack had been sitting in the unattended courtyard (pack delivery service, which she used, had put it there).
Then, we went into the convent where the workers (Belgian volunteers) would not call the police for us. We did go to the police station the following morning.
I'm always glad to do the right thing, but thanks for "hoping" that I did!
Cheers : )
Have I ever told the story of the man who grabbed me in Leon? He regretted it. There is nothing stronger than a large strong pissed off woman, who has the safety of people around.
I am a powerhouse after hiking with poles for ten days. One of my most empowering memories is sending him flying backwards with a mighty shove. Roar!!
Yes @Tom it does. Every time. Always.Acting strange, masturbating, and attempting conversation... I wonder if reporting this behaviour qualifies as an emergency and the intended use of life or death police phone lines.
I am surprised that you think that this behaivor is not an emergency. Women have downplayed and excused horrible and frightening behavior so as not to be seen as overreacting. I hesitate to say it, but your comment is part of that problem. Under what circumstances would you accost unknown women while masturbating in public? If the answer is "none" then you can see how this behavior qualifies as seriously aberrant. One cannot predict such a person's behavior and it should be reported as a emergency and a risk to public safety.Acting strange, masturbating, and attempting conversation... I wonder if reporting this behaviour qualifies as an emergency and the intended use of life or death police phone lines.
Such aberrant behaviour should absolutely be reported. If it can be reported at the time it is happening, yes, by all means call the emergency line. But later, as some have suggested, the use of an emergency line because it is more convenient than filing a paper report... totally wrong.Acting strange, masturbating, and attempting conversation... I wonder if reporting this behaviour qualifies as an emergency and the intended use of life or death police phone lines.
BRILLIANT XXXHave I ever told the story of the man who grabbed me in Leon? He regretted it. There is nothing stronger than a large strong pissed off woman, who has the safety of people around.
I am a powerhouse after hiking with poles for ten days. One of my most empowering memories is sending him flying backwards with a mighty shove. Roar!!
I don't think anyone has suggested calling 112 simply because it is more convenient. If in doubt, call 112. I would expect the 112 operators to be able to forward the information for the appropriate response.Such aberrant behaviour should absolutely be reported. If it can be reported at the time it is happening, yes, by all means call the emergency line. But later, as some have suggested, the use of an emergency line because it is more convenient than filing a paper report... totally wrong.
I think you are still missing the point. You are putting in caveats that really should not be there ... IF it can be reported at the time it is happening. Why is it only permissible if it is happening at that moment? That is so odd to me. Who are the "some" who suggested calling the police to be convenient (if irresponsible)? I didn't see that. I get so sad when I read (mostly) women worrying about their safety if they walk the Camino alone. Do a quick search and look at how many threads are posted about women being afraid on the Camino. Public masturbation is sexual coercion, plain and simple. The fear of encountering it is an ugly truth. I would be surprised if women were typically capricious or lazy about reporting such things.Such aberrant behaviour should absolutely be reported. If it can be reported at the time it is happening, yes, by all means call the emergency line. But later, as some have suggested, the use of an emergency line because it is more convenient than filing a paper report... totally wrong.
One more alert is better than one less alert. To avoid an escalating problem/danger, all uncomfortable incidents should get police attention.Such aberrant behaviour should absolutely be reported. If it can be reported at the time it is happening, yes, by all means call the emergency line. But later, as some have suggested, the use of an emergency line because it is more convenient than filing a paper report... totally wrong.
I know, but the issue is as important today as before, and it is important for (the horde of) new members that trust the (peaceful) Camino(s). Even in Paradise there was a (rotten) apple, Just my HO ;-)It is worth noting that the original warning post in this thread was September 2016.
There were no further posts in this thread until today, October 11, 2021.
Thank you HaveringBobI think you are still missing the point. You are putting in caveats that really should not be there ... IF it can be reported at the time it is happening. Why is it only permissible if it is happening at that moment? That is so odd to me. Who are the "some" who suggested calling the police to be convenient (if irresponsible)? I didn't see that. I get so sad when I read (mostly) women worrying about their safety if they walk the Camino alone. Do a quick search and look at how many threads are posted about women being afraid on the Camino. Public masturbation is sexual coercion, plain and simple. The fear of encountering it is an ugly truth. I would be surprised if women were typically capricious or lazy about reporting such things.
If I felt like this on the Camino, I would stop walking it! Everybody needs to find their comfort zone and make decisions about risks. On the Caminos in Spain, upon occasion I have had a heightened sense of awareness and concern, but fortunately it happens no more often in Spain than it does when I am walking closer to home.I wanted to enjoy the walk…not be jumping out of my skin all the time or looking over my shoulder every five minutes
And that is the reason I decided not to walk the Camino Ingles and instead walk from Sarria, and although late in the day, I knew the Ingles was not for me on my ownIf I felt like this on the Camino, I would stop walking it! Everybody needs to find their comfort zone and make decisions about risks. On the Caminos in Spain, upon occasion I have had a heightened sense of awareness and concern, but fortunately it happens no more often in Spain than it does when I am walking closer to home.
On walking alone in unpopulated Caminos, I am more worried about injuring myself and nobody coming along soon, than I am about someone else harming me.
Those are two reasons I always carry a phone and have it easily accessible.
I think it is very important that you recognized that, and acted accordingly.For me, my comfort zone was on that section of the CF
In a real emergency, I would call 112 rather than use the App. It takes you directly to the emergency services site in the region you are calling from. Of course it’s up to the individual to decide how to characterize the situation.Install the AlertCops app on your smartphone (in particular women, but I have it too).
I don’t see any suggestion that it is more convenient to call than to file a report. However you report it, you are going to be questioned and will have to sign a statement, so calling on the phone is not a “time saver.” I have to admit I’ve met women who decided not to report an incident because of the hassle factor.But later, as some have suggested, the use of an emergency line because it is more convenient than filing a paper report..
I’m so glad this point about previous incidents has been put forward. For this reason more than any other, I’d feel I had to report any such incident as soon as possible.One more alert is better than one less alert. To avoid an escalating problem/danger, all uncomfortable incidents should get police attention.
(At least) one female pilgrim has been murdered (relatively) recently. Perhaps it (most likely) could have been avoided. IMHO, a murder is a consequence of incidents that are left unattended, and the perpetrator feeling he will get away with another incidence of his behaviour (I am deliberately writing "he"; haven't heard of any "she" offenders on that scale).
Think.
Yes, the possibility of something other than a sexual assault is another reason to download Alert Cops - it provides alternatives for injury, theft and other problems, not just sexual assaults.If I felt like this on the Camino, I would stop walking it! Everybody needs to find their comfort zone and make decisions about risks. On the Caminos in Spain, upon occasion I have had a heightened sense of awareness and concern, but fortunately it happens no more often in Spain than it does when I am walking closer to home.
On walking alone in unpopulated Caminos, I am more worried about injuring myself and nobody coming along soon, than I am about someone else harming me.
Those are two reasons I always carry a phone and have it easily accessible.
This is also the advice I received from the specialist police service when I was involved with helping victims of crime. The advice was that a percentage of minor offenders do go on to very serious assaults - those perpetrators do what they can get away with, and if there are no repercussions they escalate.I’m so glad this point about previous incidents has been put forward. For this reason more than any other, I’d feel I had to report any such incident as soon as possible.
Almost invariably, the perpetrators of serious violent attacks and murders have a history of minor sexual offences. The Sarah Everard case in the U.K. is still very much on people’s minds here and is a classic example. The prior incidents in that case should have been nipped in the bud. And there are too many other examples to list.
I don’t think it’s something to dwell on, just to act on if it happens, every time.
The broken windows hypothesis is more shaky than it's made out to be.Here is what may happen if you ignore minor incidents:
Yes, thanks for saying that particular comment is part of the problem. I was shocked when I read it.I am surprised that you think that this behaivor is not an emergency. Women have downplayed and excused horrible and frightening behavior so as not to be seen as overreacting. I hesitate to say it, but your comment is part of that problem. Under what circumstances would you accost unknown women while masturbating in public? If the answer is "none" then you can see how this behavior qualifies as seriously aberrant. One cannot predict such a person's behavior and it should be reported as a emergency and a risk to public safety.
I would say that the broken windows theory is less applicable than the fact that it is not at all uncommon for violent sexual behavior to have started with exposure or peeping. It may be a minor incident, but think of what has to happen inside a person to make them need to force other people to watch them while they masturbate in order to have sexual gratification. For most of us it is literally unthinkable. That elevates it from a kind of gross and hopefully fleeting encounter to an emergency that needs to be reported.The broken windows hypothesis is more shaky than it's made out to be.
Which is not to say that we should ignore minor incidents. In this case we absolutely shouldn't.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?