Majority of young women are 'very afraid' of being sexually assaulted walking alone at night

81% of women aged between 16 and 24 say they are either "afraid" or "very afraid" of being sexually assaulted when they walk alone at night, according to survey data published by the Center for Opinion Studies on Wednesday. 

A total of 62% respondents answered that they were "very afraid." 

This is a figure similar to those aged 25 to 34 (76%), and higher than those aged 35 to 49 (67%).

As for men, in no age group do more than a quarter of respondents express fear of possible sexual assault.

Among women aged between 25 and 34, the percentage who answered "very afraid" stands at 52% and, in the population as a whole, the figure stands at 42%.

On the other hand, six out of ten citizens fear being the victim of a robbery when they are out on the street at night alone, and 54% are very afraid of being attacked when they find themselves in such a situation.

Firefighters are the security force with the highest rating (8.3) among responders, and the Mossos d'Esquadra Catalan police force have the lowest rating (6.6).

In general, responders agree that alternative measures such as community service be given to offenders who have committed minor crimes, instead of going to prison. This includes crimes such as petty scams, fraud or forgery, theft without violence, or minor injuries without medical treatment.

Thus, in mild cases, 52% of respondents believe that mediation should be prioritized and 35% to go to court.

One in three calls to the emergency services number 112 are made to report a medical emergency and two out of ten are to report a robbery, theft, assault or similar.

The survey was conducted among 2,060 people between June 17 and September 2.