#bystander-intervention

#bystander-intervention

Witnesses play a vital role in police investigations by sharing first-hand information about what they saw or heard. However, witness reporting is often conditional on a number of factors, such as overcoming the belief that their input won't be helpful.

Toronto police arrested a 54-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman for willful cruelty to an animal after allegedly dragging a dog with their vehicle.

Footage shared by TikTok user @nicabori5 has since gone viral, showing a group of men springing into action as a young woman was attacked on the subway platform.

Being an active bystander requires the willingness and confidence to intervene. Confidence to intervene can be affected by our relationship with those involved. Using specific strategies such as planning ahead can help to increase bystander confidence.

Bystander intervention training aims to empower individuals with the skills to step in and support victims of harassment and violence in everyday situations.

"In the United States, a lack of training and readiness to deal with this relatively common medical emergency contributes to thousands of deaths a year."