Crime Prevention – Personal Safety

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On this month’s episode of Crimecall, Sergeant John Fitzpatrick discussed Personal Safety, particularly as the festive season approaches.

Personal Safety

As the evenings get darker and the festive season approaches, everyone should be aware of their surroundings, particularly when they are commuting to/and from locations and when they are heading out with colleagues, families and friends.

When it comes to outdoor safety, individuals should remember that when they are going out they should have PLANS and be “Streetwise”:

Plan night out, how you are getting there and back?
Let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.
Avoid walking alone in dark areas. Where possible, try to walk in numbers and stick to busy streets with lots of lighting and traffic.
Never attempt to reason with drunk or aggressive people and be
Streetwise - get to know the locality and the surroundings, and mind your valuables.

It’s a good idea to upload emergency contacts onto your phone and activate find my phone on your device. Keep a record of your IMEI number (Dial *#06# to get it) Take a screen shot and email it to yourself or record it somewhere safely. This will help An Garda Síochána to return your device to you if it’s located or handed in. A lot of people now use their phone as a method of payment, if you leave your phone down it could be like leaving your wallet down – always know where your property is.

Plan your trip out and home. Find out about public transport timetables and/or where you can park vehicles or bikes securely. If possible, have a designated driver or a “buddy” with you for support. If you plan on drinking, never accept a drink poured by someone you do not trust.

If you are the designated driver, lock you vehicle and leave it in a well-lit area. Don’t leave any valuables inside. Never ever drive while under the influence of an intoxicant!

Overall, watch out for one another. If someone is too intoxicated – make sure they get home safely.

Intoxication, public order and assaults

In 2022, there was a considerable increase in the number of incidents of Drunkenness

Offences (31.6%) and Public Order Offences (12.9%) between November and December, which is most likely the result of more people socialising over the festive period, attending Christmas parties and family gatherings where alcohol is being consumed.

In 2022, the number of incidents of assault offences increased between November and December by 1.4%, which is significantly lower than the increase seen in the pre-covid 2019 figures where there was an increase of 19.4%. These increases may be attributed to individuals socialising more and drinking to excess.

Drinking to excess can result in poor decisions that can impact on both you and the lives of others. Intoxication can lead to arguments and behaviour that would not usually occur. Do not try to reason with drunk or aggressive people and always remember to “Use your brain not your fists”.

Sergeant John Fitzpatrick, Crime Prevention