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Home Security
Advice
The Home Office offer the following excellent
advice on personal safety:-
Personal Safety
The chance that you or a member of your
family will be a victim of violent crime is low. Violent
crimes are still comparatively rare and account for a very
small part of recorded crime. But some people are still
frightened that they, or someone close to them, will be the
victim of a violent attack
The best way to cut the risk of attack is by
taking sensible precautions. Most people already do this as
part of their everyday lives, often without realising it.
How can you stay safe?
Staying safe at home
| Make sure your house or flat is secure.
Always secure outside doors. Fit barrel locks top and
bottom. If you have to use a key, keep it nearby – you may
need to get out quickly in the event of fire. |
| If other people such as previous tenants
could still have keys that fit, change the locks. Don’t give
keys to workmen or tradesmen, as they can easily make
copies. |
| If you wake to hear the sound of an
intruder, only you can decide how best to handle the
situation. You may want to lie quietly to avoid attracting
attention to yourself, in the hope that they will leave. Or
you may feel more confident if you switch on the lights and
make a lot of noise by moving about. Even if you’re on your
own, call out loudly to an imaginary companion – most
burglars will flee empty-handed rather than risking a
confrontation. Ring the police as soon as it’s safe for you
to do so. A telephone extension in your bedroom will make
you feel more secure as it allows you to call the police
immediately, without alerting the intruder. |
| Draw your curtains after dark and if you
think there is a prowler outside – dial 999 |
| Use only your surname and initials in the
telephone directory and on the doorplate. That way a
stranger won’t know if a man or a woman lives there. |
| If you see signs of a break-in at your
home, like a smashed window or open door, don’t go in. Go to
a neighbour and call the police. |
| If you are selling your home, don’t show
people around on your own. Ask your estate agent to send a
representative with anyone who wants to view your house. |
| When you answer the phone, simply say
‘hello’; don’t give your number. If the caller claims to
have a wrong number, ask him or her to repeat the number
required. Never reveal any information about yourself to a
stranger and never say you are alone in the house. |
| If you receive an abusive or threatening
phone call, put the receiver down beside the phone, and walk
away. Come back a few minutes later and replace the
receiver; don’t listen to see if the caller is still there.
Don’t say anything – an emotional reaction is just what the
caller wants. This allows the caller to say what he or she
wants to say, without causing distress to you. If the calls
continue, tell the police and the operator and keep a record
of the date, time and content of each phone call. This may
help the authorities trace the caller. |
Staying safe when you’re out and about
| If you often walk home in the dark, get a
personal attack alarm from a DIY store or ask your local
crime prevention officer where you can buy one. Carry it in
your hand so you can use it immediately to scare off an
attacker. Make sure it is designed to continue sounding if
it’s dropped or falls to the ground. |
| Carry your bag close to you with the
clasp facing inwards. Carry your house keys in your pocket.
If someone grabs your bag, let it go. If you hang on, you
could get hurt. Remember your safety is more important than
your property. |
| If you think someone is following you,
check by crossing the street – more than once if necessary –
to see if he follows. If you are still worried, get to the
nearest place where there are other people – a pub or
anywhere with a lot of lights on – and call the police.
Avoid using an enclosed phone box in the street, as the
attacker could trap you inside. |
| If you regularly go jogging or cycling,
try to vary your route and time. Stick to well-lit roads
with pavements. On commons and parklands, keep to main paths
and open spaces where you can see and be seen by other
people – avoid wooded areas. If you wear a personal stereo,
remember you can’t hear traffic, or somebody approaching
behind you. |
| Don’t take short-cuts through dark
alleys, parks or across waste ground. Walk facing the
traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed. |
| If a car stops and you are threatened,
scream and shout, and set off your personal attack alarm if
you have one. Get away as quickly as you can. This will gain
you vital seconds and make it more difficult for the car
driver to follow. If you can, make a mental note of the
number and description of the car. Write down details as
soon as possible afterwards. |
| Don’t hitch-hike or take lifts from
strangers. |
| Cover up expensive looking jewellery. |
| Self-defence and safety awareness classes
may help you feel more secure. Ask your local police or your
work if they have classes. |
Staying safe in taxis
| If you are going to be out late, try to
arrange a lift home or book a taxi. Check that the taxi that
arrives is the one you ordered. Ask for a description of the
car – colour, make, etc – and check this when it arrives. If
you gave your name when you booked, check that the driver
can tell you it before you get in. When you get home, ask
the driver to wait until you are inside. |
| There are many reputable mini-cab or
private hire car companies, but these must be booked either
at their office or by phone. In some cases the driver will
carry identification. Always keep the number of a reliable
firm handy. Avoid mini-cabs or private hire cars that tout
for business. |
| Always sit behind the driver. |
| If you feel uneasy, ask to be let out in
a well-lit area where there are plenty of people |
| If in any doubt, don’t get in a taxi. |
Staying safe on public transport
| Try to stay away from isolated bus stops,
especially after dark. |
| On an empty bus, sit near the driver or
conductor. |
| On a train, sit in a compartment where
there are several other people – ideally one which will be
near the exit of your destination. Check to see where the
emergency chain is. |
When driving
| Before a long trip, make sure your
vehicle is in good condition. |
| Plan how to get to your destination
before leaving, and stay on main roads if you can. |
| Make sure you have enough money and
petrol. Carry a spare petrol can. |
| Keep change and a phone card in case you
need to make a telephone call. Carry a torch. |
| Before you leave, tell anyone you are
planning to meet what time you think you will get there, and
the route you are taking. |
| If someone tries to flag you down, drive
on until you come to a service station, or somewhere busy,
and call the police. Do not pick up hitch-hikers. |
| Keep doors locked when driving and keep
any bag, carphone or valuables out of sight. If you have the
window open, only wind it down a little. Don’t wind it down
far enough to allow someone to reach in while you are
stopped in traffic. |
| If you think you are being followed, try
to alert others by flashing your lights and sounding your
horn. Make as much noise as possible. If you can, keep
driving until you come to a busy place. |
| After dark, park in a well-lit, busy
place. Look around before you get out. If you’re parking in
daylight, but coming back for your car at night, think about
how things will look in the dark. |
| Have your key ready when you go back to
your car. Make sure there is no-one in the car. |
| If your car develops problems, find a
telephone. On motorways follow the marker arrows to the
closest phone. They are never placed any more than a mile
apart, on opposite sides of the motorway. Never cross
the carriageway to use a phone. |
| While on the hard shoulder or
telephoning, keep a sharp look-out and don’t accept lifts
from strangers – wait for the police or breakdown service.
Don’t wait in the car – there is a high risk of an accident.
Wait on the embankment nearby with the front passenger door
open. If someone approaches you or you feel threatened, lock
yourself in the car and speak to them through a small gap in
the window. |
| If you frequently have to travel after
dark, or if your job involves visiting people at home, eg a
health visitor or a district nurse, consider getting a
mobile phone or ask your employer to provide one. |
What men can do
Men can help by taking the issue of women’s
safety seriously in their everyday lives. Bear these points in
mind:
| If you are walking in the same direction
as a woman on her own, don’t walk behind her – this may
worry her. Cross the road and walk on the other side. This
may reassure her that you are not following her. |
| Don’t sit too close to a woman on her own
in a railway carriage or bus. |
| If you are thinking of chatting to a
woman waiting, for example, at a lonely bus stop, remember
that she won’t know you mean no harm. |
| Realise how threatening actions such as
staring, whistling, passing comments and jostling can be,
particularly when you are one of a group of men. |
| Help female friends or family members by
giving them a lift or walking them home when you can. If you
do, make sure they are safely indoors before you leave. |
If the worst happens
Think what you would do if someone attacked
you. Could you fight back, or would you avoid resisting and
wait to escape? Only you can decide whether to fight back, but
preparing yourself for all possibilities could provide a
split-second advantage.
| If someone threatens you, shout and
scream for help and set off your personal attack alarm if
you have one. This may unnerve the attacker and frighten him
off. |
| You have every right to defend yourself,
with reasonable force with items which you have with you
like an umbrella, hairspray or keys can be used against the
attacker. The law however doesn’t allow carrying anything
which can be described as an offensive weapon. |
If you have been attacked
Assaults and rapes are serious crimes,
whether committed by a stranger or someone you know.
| Call the police straightaway. They need
your help to catch the attacker. You can help the police by:
| Taking the name or address of any
witness |
| Trying to remember exactly what the
attacker looked like |
| If a car was involved, try to note the
colour, model and registration number. |
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| You do not need to go to the police
station to report an assault – you can be interviewed in
your own home if you wish. These crimes are dealt with
sympathetically, regardless of sex. Police stations have
specially trained officers who will help and support you,
and many areas have comfortable victim suites, separate from
the police station, where you can be interviewed privately. |
| Although your immediate reaction will be
to wash, try not to if you can possibly help it. It will
destroy vital medical evidence that will help prove the case
against the person who raped or assaulted you. |
| Should your case come to trial, by law
your anonymity will be guaranteed if you are female, or
under 18 years old. The law forbids newspapers to publish
anything that might identify you. Also, as a general rule,
you should not be asked about your previous sexual history
in court. |
| If the violence is within your family,
legal protection is possible under either civil or criminal
law. In some cases for example, they can require a husband
or partner not to enter your home, or even your
neighbourhood. |
This advice has been taken from “Your
Practical Guide to Crime Prevention”.
Download
the guide in full by clicking here.
To order a personal copy contact the Crime
Prevention Officer at your local police station or write to:
Crime Prevention Publicity
Home Office
Room 155
50 Queen Anne’s Gate
London SW1H 9AT
Source :-
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/personalsafety.htm
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