Advice after bus harassment?

garfield33

Hi MSE-ers.

Last week on the bus, I tried to intervene when a man was shouting at a woman and her kids, and using racist language. He proceeded to shout at me for a bit too, then got off the bus. I reported it to the bus company who said they'd look at the CCTV but I thought that was that.

A couple of days later, he spotted me getting off the bus and followed me, videoed me, called me 'racist', 'b***h' and said 'I know where you work now'. At first I kept walking but when I took a couple of photos of him he grabbed and threw my phone and then ran off. Somehow my phone survived and I got two good pictures of him. When I got to work, I rang the non-emergency police number to report it and they turned up within 30 minutes to take a statement! I wasn't expecting them to take it that seriously but I appreciated it. Anyway, there's not much they can do as they don't know who he is and don't really have a way of finding out unless they catch him at it again. And to be honest, having the police show up would probably provoke him and make him worse if he saw me again.

Anyway, the point of my post is... has anyone had a similar experience, or have any advice for what to do if he approaches me again, either on the bus or off it?

My boss has been great and allowed me to change my hours so I'll be getting an earlier bus. There is a different bus route I can use if I need to but it means more walking at one end. I know that he is the scumbag and I shouldn't have to change my ways due to him, but I just don't want anything to happen again, it has really spooked me.

Cheers
G33

Quentin

You might consider getting one of those rape alarm sirens to keep on you.

garfield33

Thanks Quentin, already got one! I risked signing up for the free trial of Amazon Prime in order to get next-day delivery now I just need to work out how to cancel it again...

Voyager2002

I suggest that you work the new hours, but don't inconvenience yourself by changing bus route. The chances are that the scumbag will crawl back into the woodwork and not bother you again. If he does show up... a pattern of harassment is something that the law and the police take very seriously, and of course you have the photographs: if the police really wanted to find him they could do so. Not to mention the CCTV from the bus: people who behave like this persistently tend to get an ASBO banning them from buses and bus premises.

And well done for 'interfering' when he was abusing others: it is good to know that there are people who will stand up for women and children in trouble.

Marco_Panettone

Thank you for being a decent human being and standing up for those more vulnerable than you.

garfield33

Just had a call from the police station - they're sending my photos out on a 'briefing document' to their officers in case anyone knows him, and are getting in touch with the bus company to see what they've got on their CCTV.
She also said that if I get any trouble from him again, then I should call 999. I was worried that I'd wasted their time a bit (I know it's not that serious in the grand scheme of things, even though it has shaken me up a lot) but it seems they would take it seriously.

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

I've never been harrassed in such a way but have seen it happen. The unfortunate thing is sometimes these things can escalate, and the police would rather sort it out sooner rather than later.

You did the right thing.

TBagpuss

Good to know the police are taking it seriousl. I was going to suggest that you asked them to look at the bus CCTV but it seems that they have already done so.

If he does contact you again then as the police suggested, call 999 - also make as much noise as you can - shout to passers-by / other passengers -"Call the police "