Personal safety

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 a victim of a violent crime, e.g. mugging or assault, by taking a few precautions. Many are common sense and may be things you already do.

Did you know...?

In 44% of all violent incidents, victims believed offenders to be under the influence of alcohol

There are different sections here for men and women because men and women experience crime and violent crime differently. It is important to remember this so that you can protect yourself as well as possible, but men and women will find points 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 (See: Self defence), 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.

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - Date rapeDate rape

    Date rape is when someone puts drugs in your drink in order to take advantage of you when your senses are distorted by the drugs. There are some measures you can take to prevent yourself from being a victim of date rape.

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - Hate crimeHate crime

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

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - MenMen

    While women are most at risk from men on their own, men are more at risk from groups of men.

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - personal safety tipsPersonal safety tips

    It's always better to be safe than sorry - follow some of our personal safety tips to help keep yourself safer.

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - thefy and robberyTheft and robbery

    Street robbery is generally known as mugging or bag snatching. Pickpocketing is different, as victims aren't aware that the offence is taking place.

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - transportTransport

    Here are some tips about how you can keep yourself safe when you're making a journey, whether you are using public transport, driving or taking a taxi.

  • Crimestoppers crime prevention advice - Crimes against womenWomen

    Everyone has the right to live free of unwanted attention, harassment and abuse. Read our advice to find out what this means for women and what you could do in some situations.

Dean Lawrence RICE

Criminal

Offence: Other crime

RICE was convicted in his absence of conspiracy to kidnap and falsely imprison.

More info

Case study

11-year old Malik Garvey is growing up surrounded by stabbings, shootings and gang warfare. Some of his friends' parents are involved in drugs and gan...

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