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Female Safety

WEEK THREE – SUMMER RAPE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

FEMALE SAFETY

As police in North Lincolnshire launch week three of a summer rape awareness campaign, this week the message focuses on the importance of women staying safe when heading out on a night out.

During the summer month’s police in North Lincolnshire see an increase in the number of women reporting sex offences. In an attempt to help reduce this police are providing advice and support to women in North Lincolnshire to help them stay safe.

The summer months tend to see more and more people heading out into Scunthorpe town centre and the surrounding areas. It could be going out for a meal or a heading for a girly night out, but women should always remember the importance of personal safety.

Specially designed artwork has been displayed in such places as pubs, bars, restaurants, takeaway vendors and doctor’s surgeries to emphasise the key messages of the campaign.

The 12 week campaign, launched by North Lincolnshire police features heavily the messages around how to stay safe when you are out, how to get home safely and what to do if something, such as a sexual offence occurs during the night.

Detective Sergeant Nicki Miller, who leads the Sex Offences Team in North Lincolnshire, said:

“The safety of women in North Lincolnshire is a massive part of this campaign.  The artwork being displayed in the format of posters and Z cards focus mainly on females staying safe”.

“Continually we see an increase in the summer months of the number of sex offences reported to police. A number of the offences take place during or following a night out and often involve women who have had too much alcohol to drink which may have impaired their judgement.

“The aim of this campaign is to give advice to women who are going out and to give them advice on how to stay safe and ensure they have an enjoyable night and not one they will regret.

“It is fun going out with friends drinking alcohol, but drinking to excess could compromise your safety.”

As part of the campaign police are working alongside partner agencies that will help to deliver the key messages throughout the campaign.

Advice the police are offering to women includes:

Eat something before you drink - Don’t go out drinking on an empty stomach, the food will help soak up the alcohol.

Let people know where you are going and when you'll be home - If you are going to be staying out then let the people you live with know.

Drinking in rounds may make you feel under pressure to drink quicker and more than you intended to. Also try and stick to a budget.

Pace yourself and avoid binge drinking - know your limits.

Don't mix alcohol and drugs - the consequences of this could potentially be life threatening.

Don't leave your drink unattended, and don't accept drinks from strangers.

Plan your journey home - Make sure you know where you will be going. Are you going back home or will you be staying with a friend?

Have the number of a registered taxi firm in your phone or handbag - NEVER get into an un-licensed taxi.

Some taxi firms will let you pre book a car for the time you want to go home.

If you are out with a group of friends, ensure you stay in a group - Do not be in a pub or club on your own. Make sure somebody knows where you are at all times.

Carry a mobile on you, which is charged up and has credit.

Z-cards with all this information on is also being placed in a number of venues across North Lincolnshire and is being handed out to people who are out and about in the town centre on a Friday and Saturday night.