Being mugged

A mugger is someone who intends to rob you, often with the threat of assault, which makes it hard to be prepared in any way. Even so, it's vital that your personal safety comes first, so think before you act. Do you put up a fight, make a big noise, attempt to run away or just submit to their demands? Only you can decide, based on the situation as it unfolds, just don't do anything that increases the risk of getting hurt. Choosing to comply without resistance won't make you less of a victim, or weaken your case in any way. What counts is that you protected yourself in the best way you could, and anyone from family and friends to the police will recognise that and respect you for it.

Just don't be tempted to tool up with a weapon of any kind. Even if you feel it's for self-protection, the law doesn't see it that way - you will be committing a criminal offence. If anything, it can only increase your risk of attracting more trouble.

Reporting it

If you are mugged, you should report the incident at your local police station as soon as possible, but don't call 999 unless it's an emergency. Even if you don't have much recollection of what happened, it could still mean the muggers are brought to justice before anyone else is forced to go through the same traumatic experience as you.

Being mugged is a traumatic event. It can trigger a range of strong emotions that may be hard to handle and can even change over time. The bottom line is that whatever you're feeling is fine, from shock to anger, isolation and depression, but in every case it helps to open up about it. Confiding in someone you trust, from a close friend, a family member, or even a counsellor can only help you get things in perspective, and allow you to move on with your life.