The art of staying safe!

CRIME can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. The culprits think that they won’t get caught, and the victim thinks: it won’t be me. The reality is often very different.

For every crime there is always a victim. Not every culprit will get caught but every victim will suffer. This article is therefore designed to reduce your risk of injury and/or loss from crime in public places. The extent of your suffering or loss will depend on three key factors:

Your vulnerability

Your environment

Your individual behaviour

VULNERABILITY

UNDERSTANDING your individual potential to become a crime victim must be approached from the mindset of the criminal. They will judge or rate your vulnerability in a number of ways, with some factors outweighing others depending on the type of crime being contemplated. If you are:

A man or a woman

Old or young

Able bodied or

disabled

Alone or in company

A local or a stranger

Confident or timid One or more of the above can increase or decrease your potential victimisation. Some are outside your control, others are not. It is important to remember that each one can affect your risk category.

ENVIRONMENT

SOME areas are more prone to crime than others. Busy shopping thoroughfares with many people will always attract thieves. Likewise, quiet and poorly illuminated streets, underpasses and laneways may be the ideal place for muggers and robbers to strike.

Many random assaults and acts of night-time violence occur at predictable flash points such as queues, outside licensed premises, fast-food restaurants and nightclubs.

You should always instinctively prepare for the environment you may be visiting by asking yourself some basic questions:

Do I know how to get there?

Will I need to travel through potential trouble spots, and can I avoid them?

Do I need to go alone, and will I go by day or by night?

What is my mode of transport and how long should the journey take?

If I am using my own car, where can I park safely, and what contingency plans do I have if I break down?

Do I know anything about the place I am visiting? Is it safe and well managed?

Have I told anyone where I am going, and what time I expect to return?

Do I need to wear expensive jewellery or carry all my credit or Laser cards? ÷ What other items are in my possession that may be attractive to thieves — do I really need to bring them?

YOUR INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR

WHAT we are able to control when in the public domain is our own individual behaviour. Some people are naturally confrontational and aggressive while others can remain calm and controlled even in the most provocative situations.

Your ability to anticipate potential trouble, and to minimise or diffuse it, can depend on your individual personality and your own behaviour. Becoming ‘streetwise’ is a learning experience. However, we should all observe some basic principles in avoiding trouble and trouble-makers.

OBSERVATION AND CONFIDENCE

WHEN walking in public, do so in a confident and prompt manner. A thief or an attacker will seek out the most vulnerable target. When you are in public, be observant. Look around you and be wary of strangers, whether they are on their own or in groups. Note the nearest public building or place of safety.

If you are unsure of your surroundings, go back to where you came from and seek a trusted companion to accompany you to your destination.

Trust your instincts, avoid confrontation and if something is not quite right, go to a safe place straight away.