The Path of Safety

don't look strangers in the eye when you're scared - sara davidman

have your wits about you - passer by camberwell green

don't walk by yourself - bus conductor camberwell green

wear high heels you can run in

you need to make sure you've got appropriate clothing – teenager, AMR school Camberwell

use the seven stars and the nine palaces steps techniques, tai chi for walking through crowds - laurence noga, Artist

keep all your valuables out of sight -constance, mum camberwell

act like you know where you're going- mestre cobra mansa

keep to the main streets - passer by camberwell Green

eventually we have to learn to become one with the teacher who lives within and speaks through our inner voice – shirley griffin grandmother and transatlantic sailor

don't go to night clubs - jean LSE

don't go to dark corners - dunia teenage girl, Camberwell

every thing we need to be well and free and happy and therefore safe, is available to us from our own innate resources and to access this ancient wisdom we need to dissolve all the stress and tensions of that get in our way..... Staring with our own body and mind and then taking care of one other and then the environment around us. When we take care of ourselves in this special and natural way everything under the stars is taken care of.....(and that includes being safe on the streets)...... marita sanguinetti

weave in and out of the trees on a tree lined street if you think someone is following you, they won’t be able to see you the whole time. Skill developed through watching Naomi a lone woman walking home late in camberwell

if you see a gang turn around and walk in the other direction - teenage boy camberwell

be quick on your feet wear trainers and look like your poor - teenage boy Camberwell

if you are addicted to something like sugar, cigarettes, alcohol, another person or drugs this will be making it harder for you to experience your surroundings as directly as you could.

Doing things that are unexpected can make people angry or afraid - young child comber grove primary

if some one gives you trouble say "I don't want none I wanna live my life" ron teenager, camberwell

Wolly Road and Narm is places not to go! – teenager

do not fear death - tristan fashion designer

just be a human being just be normal - ras lion, proprietor of rasta shop

If you think some one is following you stop to tie your shoelace, they will give themselves away if they stop suddenly too- mestre cobra mansa

Only cross the road at the crossings – constance mum camberwell

The blocks on the council estate cast scary shadows, people are always looking over their shoulders at each other walking home at night, the orange light from the street lamps is scary too, so laugh to yourself or sing to your self to help you relax remember there are always people around except in really out of the way places. Melanie Lenz curator camberwell

If you are a woman walking alone and some one thinks you are a prostitute find other people to walk with, Naomi camberwell

Don’t wander around aimlessly, have an aim, tony street cleaner

Use humour when you talk to people, tom clark art student

Be low key, don’t be flashy, be a ghost, be yourself,
man shifting tyres at car workshop on the corner near southampton way

Look around all the time, keep away from the road, concentrate at the traffic lights, look left and right when crossing the road, don’t play with a ball near the road. Child aged about seven walking with his mum up camberwell new road

Everything can be done in the manner of a warrior Victor, writer

Watch out for dogs, a child might freeze or run and the dog will think they want to play. Watch out for uneven road surfaces as they can trip you up and can be especially difficult with a buggy. mother with child on camberwell new road

Wearing a baseball cap is handy to avoid eye contact
Imo klink, photographer

It all depends on you, politeness is important
Young man with a bike camberwell green

Scare the shit out of people or else try to be invisible. Women should carry a small can of hairspray.
kermit homeless man

Be confident. if you are worried people sense it
homeless man camberwell new road

Watch out for E or F registration cars such as ford focus if you see a car like that run around the corner you might get egged
alex chartered surveyor

Don’t go to Camberwell Green its dangerous and there are drug dealers there
woman walking her dog in burgess park

If you come from a tough place you will know how to handle yourself, I grew up in Bermondsey so I don’t even have to think about it I was in the air force I was airborne it all helps. Man in his 80’s wearing air force squadron badge and che guevara badge waiting at a bus stop on camberwell new road

Being streetwise is different to being afraid you need a balance, keep your wits about you but don’t be ruled by thoughts about safety, jonas camberwell green

Stay away from a wall make sure you are on the side of the pavement nearest the road, if some one is really close I step away so I’m not in punching distance. magda metwally capoeirista and IT consultant

As a woman I feel more safe and secure in public space if I’m with some one else. vicky cowin capoeirista and advocate for people with learning difficulties

Two men walking together are more vulnerable to attack, a critical number for feeling safe is more than three other wise you’re better off on your own. tom clark art student and urban interventionist

Run away quickly, research in to the Stephen Lawrence case said that he stayed to try to calm the situation down and the other boy who was with him ran away. vicky cowin

The key is familiarity it all about knowing where you are, the street is like any landscape it can be threatening when you don’t know where you are within it. The moment you know where you are its easy, simon mcburney, theatre director

It comes down to survival of the fittest being fit really helps lillmiss base, teenager camberwell

It depends what you want to feel safe against, chris townsend caped crusader

The TV news broadcasts every bad thing that happens so people are staying at home and feeling afraid to go out. There are reasons why these bad things happen and they need to be addressed people staying at home being scared won’t help. tom clark

I grew up in New South Wales costal region in Australia and I always felt safe, I’ve brought that feeling with me. natalie menser capoeirista and teacher at special educational needs school

Look out for danger. I have a baby in a push chair I watch out for dogs not on leads because you have to tell the owner to put the dog on a lead, if any one gets bitten its them that has to dress the wound. Also look out for people who are hallucinating, I’m a mental health professional so I look out for people with mental health problems. And watch out for teenagers in case they have a knife or are drunk. I have an 18 year old and I tell him not to go out on the street. mental health nurse resident of mariner house

When you are hung over the whole world seems more hostile,

Use a back-pack so that you have your hands free, magda metwally IT consultant

I’m Camberwell born and bred so I don’t even have to think about it but I have done some tweaking as the place has changed, woman from creative routes camberwell

I lived in Santa Tereza in Rio and every night you hear shooting I lived there for eight years so the skills I developed are: recognise where you are and how you have to behave there. Like in a river if I find a rock and i want to jump off I don’t just stay on the rock and get scared I need to know how deep it is. I check I swim to find out. Two things that are good to know are; be confident and choose a route based on what you know. Don’t just rely on your perceptions listen to the stories that are linked with that place ask where are the most tricky streets, you need to know the place and what times it is safe or unsafe. goia

State of mind is what its all about on the street, being street smart is something you learn from experience if you tell a child that fire is hot he puts his fingers in the fire and he knows its hot. Keep helping each other one hand washes the other keep helping each other helping each other helping each other it stretches out across the world and that way we all get help. jason jay from creative routes

Change your appearance even if you are fit and strong sometimes it’s better to walk stooped and look as if you are old and frail

You’re only as intelligent as your closest mates. the kraftsmen

notice what’s going on don’t engage with anything, know the elements at play in the area. jonas altman

You need a sharp pair or teeth
skeve zacharia’s daughter in the deli on camberwell church street

You’ve got to know what to expect. I was born here so I got street wise I’ve been mugged, I’ve been attacked you get to know how to protect your self after all this.
skeve zacharia

Be invisible dress inconspicuous, wear muted colours, and don’t make a scene. mark pilkington, polymath

Know the area, be vigilant if you see anything suspicious call the police. french security guard camberwell green

Don’t look people in the eyes especially young people in a big group. Women give up the mini skirt. security guard camberwell green

be more careful if people have been drinking. Imo klink

If you see a fight watch carefully don’t get involved and don’t run away, just watch to see what is happening so you can judge the best thing to do. bruce capoeirista