'Victim blaming': Beyonce-inspired NSW Police Facebook post backfires
An attempt by the NSW Police to inject humour into a sexual violence PSA has backfired, with the Facebook post going viral for all the wrong reasons.
The post, inspired by Beyonce's song Single Ladies, landed with a thud at 4.23pm Wednesday on the force's official Facebook page.
It's been shared almost 2000 times and received more than 3600 comments, but many of those who commented and shared took umbrage at the implication that women using dating apps are reckless and need to be told to "keep yourself safe".
One commenter, Kathleen Black, wrote: "So tax payers are paying some cop to write a little poem to warn women how to stay safe. What a joke, shows they have to much time on their hands and victim blaming is the name of these cops game [sic]."
Another user, Becca Holmes, acknowledged that the post may have been well-intentioned, but missed the mark. "I know your intention was to educate and be humorous, and this is a humorous little ditty, but it does imply that women are still kinda stupid and only get assaulted because they’re not careful," she wrote.
Others took to Twitter to question the police on their choice of PSA.
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said the post "isn't funny or clever".
"This post has police reinforcing the false narrative that women must take sole responsibility for their safety and alter their behaviour to avoid becoming victims of crime.
"NSW police need to focus on keeping the community safe not repeating narratives that work to harm women,” Mr Shoebridge said.
The outrage comes weeks after Victoria Police's response to the death of Eurydice Dixon stirred a similar debate about the role of such warnings.
In the hours after her body was found, Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton urged women to have "situational awareness" and "take responsibility for your own safety".
The reaction from women was swift and forceful, prompting a later Facebook post from Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews.
"Our message to Victorian women is this," he wrote. "Stay home. Or don't. Go out with friends at night. Or don't. Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms. Because women don't need to change their behaviour. Men do."
NSW Police have been approached for comment.