How bad is crime in the UK? UK Athletics publishes document telling runners to not run at night, hide their phones, etc

This is run-of-the-mill advice for the masses. You're reading way to much into it.

"Run in daylight, but if that’s not possible then stay on well-lit routes or even use a head torch."

This is very helpful advice. Now I know not to run in the dark when I can't see where I'm going. But I don't know about the head torch. It seems like I could set myself on fire.

never left the USA wrote:

What's your favorite part?

i liked the picture of the heelstriker

Don't forget your running loicence m8!

I genuinely was going to reply to say that running is perfectly safe, but events took over....

https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/sprinter-leon-reid-charged-with-drugs-and-firearms-offences-1039943448/

There was a woman kidnapped, assaulted and killed by a police officer whilst walking home at night a few weeks ago. I suspect that this has come from that.

Im in the UK run anytime of day or night and don't have any fear, yes there are areas of my city I wouldn't run into late at night but that is the same as any city around the world. London is another story as certain areas are full of gangs stabbing each other

It really depends on where you live. Which is pretty much the rule for anywhere in the world.

General advice would always be cautious and have to take in to account that some places may not be the best to run in.

I ran for years in central london and had very few instances of trouble. Certainly, no different to experiences in the same places from when I was not running.

for sure wrote:

There was a woman kidnapped, assaulted and killed by a police officer whilst walking home at night a few weeks ago. I suspect that this has come from that.

Im in the UK run anytime of day or night and don't have any fear, yes there are areas of my city I wouldn't run into late at night but that is the same as any city around the world. London is another story as certain areas are full of gangs stabbing each other

I mean - this is the key point. They're stabbing each other (and even then not very often in the bigger scheme of things). A random runner they really aren't very interested in.

A combination of the Sarah Everard situation and also some relatively high profile incidents of verbal and physical abuse both in Wales (where folks haven't had access to the track) and also on a canal path in Birmingham (which is why I believed the West Midlands police are involved) has meant that UKA have taken a stance.

It also fits relatively well into the overall direction that Joanna Coates clearly wants to take the organisation and this isn't a particularly disagreeable part of that direction.

...and UK Athletics are based in Birmingham - so if they're going to get a police force to comment on this, it'll be West Mids Police

if i leave my wallet somewhee where i live it gets returned with more money in it.#

Brittttt wrote:

...and UK Athletics are based in Birmingham - so if they're going to get a police force to comment on this, it'll be West Mids Police

Oh yeah...

I try not to think about them as much as I can!

I think the nicest thing you can say about their Birmingham set-up is that it's nice to see a governing body with an HQ outside of London?

It is paranoid nonsense, the only risk worth even considering is being hit by traffic at night due to being as daft as many are and choosing to run in all black clothing.

World crime rankings by country

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp

World homicide rates

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

This is a very general PSA aimed at both runners (general tips to be safe) and non-runners (tips on sharing the roads and paths and not being a jerk to runners).

I like that they included that section for non-runners on being an "ally". For example not blowing car horn, etc.

I'd like to see a PSA campaign here in the US with similar advice for the general public.

UKperson wrote:

It is paranoid nonsense, the only risk worth even considering is being hit by traffic at night due to being as daft as many are and choosing to run in all black clothing.

Not necessarily true. I got properly reflective kit and it put me at more risk as my neighbor said "now I can pick you out and hit you with my car".

True story.

Track can be dangerous:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C-aB09i30E

> UK Athletics publishes document telling runners to not run at night

no it does not say that. This is a boring document with predictable and sensible advice. A non-story and a weirdly alarmist thread.

charli3 wrote:

> UK Athletics publishes document telling runners to not run at night

no it does not say that. This is a boring document with predictable and sensible advice. A non-story and a weirdly alarmist thread.

Weirdly alarmist in the rational world. On LRC, it's just another sluggish Thursday.

This looks like a post for a British guy to respond to!

I just got back from my run at night on which I brought my phone to listen to an audio book. I took plenty of poorly lit paths along the way, all things that I do almost every day.

Other than the usual 5 or 6 idiots shouting "Run Forrest run!" nothing really happened, as usual.

This story about crime sounds like complete nonsense to me. The worst thing that ever happened to me, if it even counts, was a gang of lads setting off fireworks in the park and asking me if I was a cop, to which I replied "No" and continued my run in peace.

never left the USA wrote:

This apparently isn't an April Fool's joke. This is real. What's your favorite part?

http://www.uka.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Running-Safety-Guidelines-2021.pdf

Yes, there's a risk that if you go outside something bad will happen to you.

Yes, it's worth being sensibke.

No, it doesn't happen very much.

A friend once had a snowball thrown at her with a rock inside it by some kids and got a broken cheekbone for her trouble and that's just about all I can think of in 25 + years of running.

A couple of friends have been mugged in a similar timeframe.

It happens but on the whole, like most of the "first world" in all but the worst inner city areas Britain is very safe.