Personal safety
This section provides advice on a number of matters relating to
personal safety. The information below gives you advice when you
are out and about. You can use the left-hand side menu to navigate
around other areas of personal safety: theft and robbery, females,
males, and hate crime.
Always
dial 999 in an EMERGENCY.
Out and about
The chances of you or a member of your family becoming a victim
of violent crime are low. Violent crimes by strangers in public
places are still rare and account for a very small part of recorded
crime. However, you can make yourself even less likely to be the
victim of a violent crime - for example, robbery (mugging) or
assault - by taking a few sensible precautions.
Many are common sense, and may be things you already do. Making
yourself safer doesn't mean changing your entire lifestyle,
personality or wardrobe, and it doesn't mean never going out at
all.
Although there are different sections here for men and for
women, this doesn't mean that personal safety is just for men or a
women's issue. Men and women experience crime differently and it is
important to remember this so that you can protect yourself as well
as possible. You should find things of interest in both
sections.
You should think about how you would act in different situations
before you are in them. Think about whether you would stay and
defend yourself (using reasonable force), risking further injury,
or whether you would give an attacker what they want, to avoid
injury. There is nothing wrong with doing either, but you should
think about the options - there will be no time to do so if you are
attacked.
Some general points:
- You will be safest in bright, well lit and busy areas
- Try to look and act confident - look like you know where you
are going and walk tall
- You might like to spread your valuables around your body. For
example, keep your phone in your bag, your house keys in your
trouser pocket and your money in your jacket
- If someone tries to take something from you, it may just be
better to let them take it rather than to get into a confrontation
and risk injury
- You can use reasonable force in self-defence. You are allowed
to protect yourself with something you are carrying anyway (for
example, keys or a can of deodorant), but you may not carry a
weapon
- If you decide to defend yourself, be aware that your attacker
might be stronger than you, or may take what you are using in
self-defence and use it against you. It is often better just to
shout loudly and run away!
- Shout 'fire' rather than 'help' - it can get more results
- If you use a wheelchair, keep your things beside you rather
than at the back of the chair
- Try not to be conspicuous about the valuables you are carrying.
Talking on your mobile phone, carrying a laptop, or showing your
friend your new gold ring all show thieves that you are worth
robbing
- When out walking or jogging, you should not listen to a
personal stereo through headphones, so you can stay more alert to
your surroundings.