Personal safety 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 that 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.

And although there are different sections in this booklet for men and for women, this doesn’t mean that personal safety is just for men or a women’s issue. Men and women can experience crime differently and it is important to remember this so 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 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.

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Personal safety: theft and robbery

Street robbery is generally known as mugging. It can also cover snatching bags. Pickpocketing is slightly different, as you will not be aware of the offence taking place. Robbery is more likely to take place in quiet or dark areas, and pickpocketing where it is busy, for example, on a busy train in rush hour.

Young men are most likely to be the victims of robbery, and are typically attacked by other young men. If someone tries to take something from you by force, it may be best to give it to them. This will help you avoid getting injured.

But you can take the following actions to reduce the effects of a theft, if it happens to you.

• Carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards. Keep it zipped up, and make sure your wallet or purse can’t be seen. Don’t carry large amounts of cash.

• Spread your possessions about - for example, keep your mobile phone separate from your purse, and your keys separate from your credit card.

• Cover up any expensive jewellery and, if you must carry other valuables, be discreet.

• Have your house keys ready so you can get in the front door quickly - and carry them on you, not in your bag.

• If you are in a wheelchair, on a bike or pushing a pram, keep your bags where you can see them.

• Think about your route, especially if you’re going to be on your own or carrying lots of shopping bags.
  

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Where does robbery happen?

Robbery is more likely to take place in quiet or dark areas, and pick pocketing is more likely where it is busy. However, thieves also work near tube and train stations, and bus stops, where people are likely to get their mobile phones out. If possible, wait until you get to work or home to make a call or send a text message. Be extra careful:

• at tube and train stations;
• at cash machines;
• in car parks;
• getting on and off buses; and
• in overcrowded areas, especially during rush hour.

What about my phone?

If your mobile phone is stolen, it’s bad enough that it’s expensive to replace. There’s also the hassle of losing all those stored numbers, messages, pictures and downloads. So how can you protect your phone?

Don’t leave your phone on tables in pubs or restaurants and try not to use it in a crowded place.

Avoid using your phone near a tube or train station or when getting on or off the bus. Wait until you are further away from the stop or station.

If you need to make a call in public, make it brief and keep an eye out for those around you. Remember, if you’re chatting you’re less likely to be aware of what’s going on around you.

Don’t walk while you’re sending text messages.

Always ask yourself, 'Is it safe to answer my phone right now?'

Register your phone with your network operator. This means they can block calls if your phone is stolen so the thief can’t use it. You can also register your mobile equipment on ‘MEND’ at www.menduk.org (MEND, or Mobile Equipment National Database, is a police-approved programme for registering mobile phones and other mobile IT equipment.)

Record your registration number (also known as the IMEI or International Mobile Equipment Identity number) and phone number. Keep these numbers separate and safe. You can find your IMEI number (a 15-digit serial number) by keying *#06# into most phones or by looking underneath the phone battery.

If your phone is stolen, report your phone number and IMEI number to your network operator (or call 08701 123 123) and to the police. Your phone number can be blocked, just like a stolen credit card. Once blocked, it cannot be used again.

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Credit cards

Keep your cards separate from your chequebooks.

Never let them out of your sight or pass on your PINs.

Don’t leave them behind the bar or counter. Staff could copy your details.

ATMs (cash machines)

If you need to use cash machines, do so during the day and use machines inside banks if you can. If not, choose ones on a busy street with good lighting. Cover the keyboard with your free hand so that no-one can see the number you enter. If someone starts distracting you or stands close by, cancel the transaction and walk away. If you have withdrawn any cash, put it away immediately.

If your credit cards are stolen, call your bank or credit card company to cancel them immediately. Don’t even wait until you get home. You should find a 24-hour emergency number on your statement and on some cash machines.


Websites

Be safe, Be Secure - personal safety
Good2bsecure

Immobilise your mobile phone if stolen
Immobilise.com

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Personal safety: transport

This section offers some general tips on how to keep yourself safe and secure when you’re making a journey – either catching a bus or taxi, or when you’re in the car.

Public transport

• As with everything, you are safest where there are other people, and where it is light or well lit.

• Plan your route.

• Try to wait in busy or well-lit areas.

• Sit near other people, near the driver if you are on a bus, or near the conductor if you are on a train.

• Move if someone makes you feel uncomfortable.

Driving

• Keep your car in good condition and try not to run out of petrol.

• Keep doors locked when driving and keep bags, phones and other valuables out of sight, preferably in the boot.

• Try to park in well-lit or busy areas. If you park during the day, think about what the area will feel like after dark.

• Some car parks have ‘Secured car park’ accreditation. Find out which ones do locally and try to use them – look out for the ‘Secured car park’ sign or visit www.securecarparks.com

• If you break down on the motorway, follow the arrows to the nearest phone. Do not cross the carriageway. Wait outside your car (as far away as possible from the carriageway) unless you feel threatened, in which case you should sit in the passenger seat.

• Do not give lifts to or accept lifts with people you do not know, or do not know well.

• Do not drive if you have been drinking or taking drugs, and do not accept a lift from someone who has.

• You may feel more comfortable carrying a mobile phone with you. Try to keep it out of sight, and do not use it while driving.

Taxis and private hire vehicles

• If you are going to be out late or do not want to travel on public transport on your own, try to arrange a lift home with someone you know or make your journey by taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV, sometimes called a minicab).

• Taxis and PHVs give you a degree of protection because vehicles and drivers must meet suitability criteria, including local minimum standards for vehicles and a criminal record and health checks for drivers, before they are licensed by your local council (district/borough council, unitary authority or Transport for London).

• You can hail a taxi on the street or at a rank as well as pre-booking it but you can only pre-book a PHV through a licensed PHV operator (not a PHV driver).

• You should always ensure that you travel in a licensed taxi and PHV by checking the vehicle's signage or plate and the driver's badge. You should never agree to travel in an unlicensed vehicle with an unlicensed driver.

• Check that the taxi or PHV that arrives is the one you ordered. Ask for a description of the car - colour, make, etc - and check this when it arrives. You could also ask for the name of the driver beforehand.

• If you pre-book your taxi or PHV, make a note of the company you are using, and the telephone number, and if possible leave it with a friend.

• When you get to your destination, ask the driver to wait until you are inside.

• If you are approached by someone in the street offering (ie touting for) a taxi or PHV journey, ignore them. Touting is an offence. Indeed, it has recently been made recordable so that fingerprinting and DNA tests can be made on offenders.

• If travelling alone, always sit behind the driver in the back seat.

• If you feel uneasy, ask to be let out in a well-lit area where there are plenty of people.

• If in any doubt, make an excuse and don't get in the vehicle.

• The security of drivers is important too. Safety and security aids will range from a simple Perspex screen between the driver and passenger of a saloon car to sophisticated CCTV equipment.

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Personal safety: women

Everyone has the right to live free of unwanted attention, harassment and abuse. You have this right, whoever you are, whatever your race, background, religion or sexuality, and however you dress or act. No-one has the right to interfere with this, whether they are strangers, colleagues, friends, acquaintances or family.

Minor sexual assault

• This is more likely to happen in crowded places. It includes being touched or rubbed against.

• It can be hard to know who is doing this, so it is often easier to move away, if this is possible. Try to move to where there are other women.

• If you feel confident to do so, a stern ‘take your hands off me’ may make the person stop. This will also alert other people to their behaviour.

Sexual assault and rape

• Despite popular beliefs, rape by a stranger is very uncommon.

• Sexual assault and rape are more likely to happen in less busy areas. You can reduce the risk of this type of attack by following the general guidance earlier in this section.

• If you are attacked, you must decide whether to defend yourself, which may put you at risk of further injury. Or it may not be possible to defend yourself. Either way, you did not ask to be raped. It is not your fault. You did not deserve it.

• If you have been raped, you may or may not want to report it to the police, or to see a nurse or counsellor.

See the advice on domestic violence on page 32 for more information about abuse within a relationship.

See the advice on ‘date rape’ on page 31.

Also see the advice on hate crime on page 27.

The police are specially trained to work with women who have been sexually assaulted. You will be able to talk to a female police officer, and to a female doctor or nurse if you go to hospital.

If you want to report the crime straightaway, whether you get medical help or go straight to the police, try not to wash or change your clothes. If you want to report the crime at a later date, this is okay too.

If you know someone who has been raped, try to be supportive, but do not be judgemental. It is up to them what they do now.

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Personal safety: men

While women are most at risk from men on their own, men are more at risk from groups of men. Most commonly, young men are attacked by groups of other young men.

You can reduce the risk by following the general guidance – for example, trying to stay in well-lit or busy areas.

Another way to avoid violence is to stop a confrontational situation turning into an aggressive one. Think about how you react when you get angry. If you feel yourself getting angry with someone, or if they get angry with you, try to move away. It takes a brave man to back down from a fight.

If you have been attacked, you may want to go to the police, or to a doctor. The doctor may also ask you what has happened, but if you don’t want to tell them, you don’t have to.

See the advice on hate crime and alcohol on pages 27 and 34.

Your actions towards women

• A lot of women’s fear of crime comes from men’s actions. You can help this by thinking about what you and your friends do. For example:

• don’t start conversations with women on their own;

• try not to walk too close behind – they may think you are following them;

• respect women’s personal space;

• don’t make comments about women who walk past; and

• remember that ‘no’ means ‘no’.

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Personal safety: hate crime

Hate crimes are directed against people because of some aspect of who they are, most typically because they
are from an ethnic minority or visible religious minority, or because of their sexuality.

Hate crime covers a wide range of behaviour, for example, verbal abuse, racist or homophobic graffiti or physical assault. A crime can be classed as a hate crime if the victim or witness sees it as being so.

If you are the victim of what you think is a hate crime, it is not your fault. You have the right to live your life
free from abuse and violence, whoever you are. You do not have to live with hate crime.

Police are trained to deal with hate crime with sensitivity and tact. They will not treat you differently because you are from an ethnic or religious minority, or because of your sexuality. A lot of police forces also provide self-referral forms, so you can report a crime without having to deal directly with the police.

Sexual assault

Women are not the only victims of sexual assaults. Men are also sexually assaulted, or experience violent relationships in their lives. If you or a friend are a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, follow the information given in the sections on sexual assault and domestic violence on pages 24, 25 and 32.

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