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Young people
Mugging and assault
Most muggings take place in the street or on public transport and usually happen in the evening. This guide lets you know what to do if you've become a victim.
Being mugged
Young people are often victims of a mugging because they carry around a lot of expensive things like mobile phones and MP3 players. They're also more likely to be carrying cash in their wallets instead of credit and debit cards which can be used more easily to buy goods.
Muggers will often use physical force to make you hand over your valuables and may also carry weapons like knives. If you are confronted by a mugger, the best idea is to give them your things, especially if they're threatening you with a knife.
Remember that you can easily replace your belongings or cancel your cards if they are stolen, so don't put yourself at risk of being seriously injured just to keep hold of your stuff.
Assault
If you've been beaten up or threatened with violence by anyone, then this is classed as an assault even if you're not badly injured.
Assaults can happen at any time of the day and can be committed by anyone. You may be walking down the street, at school or college or even in your own home. As well as strangers, you can also be attacked by people that you know.
People found guilty of assault will face serious punishments and may have to spend time at a Young Offender's Institution or in prison. If the assault is found to be a racist or homophobic attack or if someone was attacked because of their religious beliefs, the sentence will be more severe.
Happy slapping
Another form of assault you may have heard about is happy slapping. This is when someone is assaulted or beaten up by a gang of people whilst someone films the attack on their mobile phone. Victims of attacks like this can often end up in hospital with serious injuries.
If you're a victim of happy slapping or you witness someone else being attacked, you should report it to the police as soon as possible.
What to do if you've been attacked
You may be anxious or in a state of panic if you've been assaulted. The first thing you should do is get any injuries checked out by a doctor. You should then cancel any cards or mobile phones so that no-one else can use them.
You should also report the attack to the police. Even if you haven't been seriously hurt, or you managed to get away from your attacker without anything being stolen, the police can use the information that you give them to stop it happening to anyone else.
You may also want to speak to someone about how you feel. Victim Support is an independent charity which helps people cope with the effects of crime.
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