Personal safety

Listed below are some steps that can be taken to ensure your personal safety:

• Never leave your bag or coat unattended in a pub or night club; it is an ideal place for thieves.
• Never leave your drink unattended, as it is very easy for someone to put an illegal substance in your drink, which could have very serious consequences for you.
• Always make sure you know how you are going to get home after a night out. It is best to travel home with friends and not on your own.
• Book a taxi home before going out; do not flag down a taxi as you cannot be sure they are a licensed cab driver.
• Avoid any confrontation or fighting. If someone is threatening you then tell a doorman, but do not get involved.
• Never accept a drink from a stranger, i.e. a glass of wine or an open bottle. Go with the person to the bar if you want to accept a drink.

Wherever you are out, try and remember the following suggestions:

• Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do then choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag, fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• If you are attacked it is often better to shout "fire" rather than "help", as it tends to attract more attention.

There are several websites which give sound advice on how to keep you and your belongings safe when out shopping. Listed below are a few points which will go some way to ensuring you do not return empty handed:

• Make sure your purse, mobile phones and other valuables are well hidden from view, in the bottom of your bag or in a zipped pocket.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash with you when shopping.
• Keep pin numbers, cards and chequebooks separate.
• If the fastening of your handbag is on the side, keep the side with the fastening closest to your body and not exposed.
• Rucksack type bags with the opening on the back are not a good place to keep valuables as they are easily opened.
• Do not carry too many bags of shopping as it makes you defenceless against pick pockets.

In general though, wherever you are try and remember the following suggestions:

• Do not walk home alone late a night. If you do then choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• If you are attacked it is often better to shout "fire" rather than "help", it tends to attract more attention.

The only fully legal self-defence product at the moment is a rape alarm. These are not expensive and can be bought from most local police stations or supermarkets.

There are other self-defence products which claim to be legal (non-toxic sprays), however, until a case is brought before the court, we cannot say that they are legal.

We cannot endorse any of these products. If you purchase one of these products you must be aware that if you are stopped by the police and are in possession of one then it is possible that you will be arrested and detained until the product, its contents and legality can be verified. Any of these products bought from abroad will more than likely be illegal and it is advisable not to purchase them.

You must also be aware that any of these products could be classed as an offensive weapon and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place is an offence.

A Taser is a weapon capable of discharging an electrical current and is classified as a prohibited firearm. It is therefore an offence to possess, purchase, acquire, manufacture, sell or transfer such a weapon, without lawful authority. Lawful authority is only granted to bodies such as the Police, and would never cover a member of the general public. Tasers should therefore not be used or in the possession of any member of the public.

Tasers can be legally used by the Police, however they are only used by highly-trained officers, who can only use them when and where they are authorised to do so. All Taser use by Police officers is monitored and reported.

For further information in relation to legal self defence products, see SQ589.

Whilst driving around in the car, keep all doors locked. This is to prevent people getting in the car and also from stealing valuables from the passenger seat whilst your vehicle is at a standstill at a junction etc.

• If driving late at night, make sure someone knows what time you are expected home.
• Make sure if setting off on a long journey, you have enough petrol, water, oil etc in your car.
• If parking and leaving your car, never leave valuables on view in the car. It is not even advisable to leave valuables at all in the car, even in the boot as a thief will always check the boot if they have broken into your car.
• Park your car in a well-lit and secure car park. It is worth paying a bit more to ensure yours and your car's safety.
• When parking at your house at night, make sure you have your house keys at the ready to save rooting for them in your pocket or bag.
• If you think you are being followed home, never go home, drive straight to the nearest police station or if you do not know where that is, drive to a shop, petrol station or any other place where there are lots of people.

In general though, wherever you are try and remember the following suggestions:

• Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do then choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag, fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.

If you are attacked it is often better to shout "fire" rather than "help", it tends to attract more attention.