Personal Safety

You can make yourself less likely to be the victim of crimes like fraud, scams, mugging or assault by taking some sensible precautions.

Tips for personal safety

don’t let someone you don’t know into your house
don’t hand over your bank account details or your debit /credit card/pension book
don’t hand out your personal details or passwords on social media
don’t respond to emails or texts from organisations you don’t know

When out and about

try to stay in bright, well-lit and busy areas, where you will feel and be safest
try to look and act confident
try not to be conspicuous about the valuables that you are carrying
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.
if you use a wheelchair, keep your things beside you rather than on the back of the chair

Domestic violence

Domestic violence is abuse from a partner, ex-partner, or family member, which may be physical, emotional or sexual.

Newcastle Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (NIDAS) offer 24 hour telephone support and emergency accommodation to those experiencing domestic violence and abuse in Newcastle.

The Silent Solution police system

If you’re in an emergency situation and need police help, but can’t speak, Make Yourself Heard to let the 999 operator know your call is genuine. All 999 calls are directed to call centres where you are asked which service you need. If no service is requested but something suspicious is heard during your call, BT operators will connect you to a police call handler if you can communicate with them using the steps described below:

How to Make Yourself Heard if unable to speak or making a noise would put you or someone else in danger:

Listen to the call handlers questions
Cough or tap the handset if possible
Press 55 if prompted, to let them know your call is genuine. You can then be put through to the police
If calling from a landline the silent solution can’t be used. They will try to ask you questions and get a response from you. If they can’t decide if your call is genuine, the call may be ended. However the call may stay connected for 45 seconds. Pick up the handset again to let the police know your call is genuine. If the call handler is worried about your safety you’ll be connected to your local police. Calling from a landline gives the call handler more information about your location.

Other Useful Information

Suzy Lamplugh Trust was founded to highlight the risks people face in their daily lives and to offer advice, action and support to minimise those risks. Their mission is to raise awareness of the importance of personal safety and to provide solutions that effect change in order to help people to avoid violence and aggression and live safer, more confident lives.

They have produced information on the following topics:

Personal Alarms
Transport Safety
Safety at Home
Internet Safety

Age UK‘s Guide to Staying Safe.

Useful links

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Last updated: June 25, 2021