So, in a big city where the average police response time (assuming you're even able to call the police) is 10 minutes, what are you supposed to do until the police arrive? Make tea and biscuits for the person who is assaulting you?

The police are at best a deterrent force who are often able to find perpetrators well after the fact. Very rarely are they able to intervene on anyone's behalf and save them from some tragedy.

[Linked Image from i30.photobucket.com]