There are a few simple tips to follow when out and about to increase your personal safety:
- Always plan ahead and work out your journey to avoid going into deserted areas
- Look confident, walk with your head held up, and keep your hands free
- Stay alert - don't use personal stereos in the street - they stop you being aware of what’s going on around you
- Cover up expensive jewellery and be discreet with other valuables like MP3 players or mobile phones
- Keep to well-used roads - avoid alleyways or short cuts wherever possible
- In the dark, always stick to well-lit areas
- Carry a torch or a whistle, or a very noisy screech or shrill personal alarm (they're not expensive and if you carry one, you will feel more confident)
- If you start to be frightened, try not to panic - always try to think around situations
If you often walk home in the dark:
- Buy a personal attack alarm from a DIY store (your local police station will also be able to tell you where you can get one) and 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, and always carry your house keys in your pocket
- If someone grabs your bag, let it go - if you hang on, you could get hurt (your safety is always more important than your property)
If you think someone is following you:
- If you think you are being followed, cross the road. If the person follows you, cross it again. If you are still worried, go directly to a safe place with lots of people (such as a supermarket or coffee shop) and tell someone what is going on.
- Call the Police.
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 - always avoid wooded areas
- If you wear a personal stereo, remember you won't be able to hear traffic, or people around you
- Don’t take short-cuts through dark alleys, parks or across waste ground
- Face 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 station or your work if they have / know of nearby classes. |
