Commercial Security International Limited

home > In The Media > City Survival – Reducing the opportunity for crime?

It’s quite likely that if you are reading this article you’re a resident of the Barbican, an area with one of the lowest crime rates in London – entirely expected for a development the name of which means fortress! At some point though you will have to leave your apartment, descend to the ground, pass the security guards and exit the gated complex and risk life on London’s mean streets - bet you don’t feel so safe and relaxed then!

The reality is that whilst London remains one of the safer cities of the world, it is not without risk. We are repeatedly advised that we shouldn’t travel in unlicensed mini cabs, leave mobile phones on bars, leave drinks unattended or speak to strangers. But we are only human and in the real world these things happen. In fact life would be fairly dull if we attempted to totally sanitise it and to remove all risk.

In the following few words we have tried to provide some advice on personal safety awareness relevant to anyone living in an urban environment anywhere in the world – even the bit outside the Barbican. There are some precautions to take, and a few simple rules to follow, which will ensure greater personal security without turning every social event or journey into a military exercise. Even if you don’t stick to all the rules, just dipping in, following those relevant to your activities and being cognisant of dangers will make you safer.

We have taken a snapshot of four general public activities; motoring, walking, jogging and socialising.

Motoring

Modern cars fitted with sophisticated alarms and immobilisers are virtually impossible to steal without the keys. Car key crime accounts for almost a third of all car related crime and is increasing. Not making keys visible to potential thieves and not leaving them in obvious places (by the front door) stops the opportunist thief.

More determined thieves resort to “Carjacking”, a term coined in the national press to describe the forcible theft of a car whilst the owner is returning to the car or actually at the wheel. Although occurrences are reported extensively, they remain reasonably unusual and generally focus on new highly desirable models. Some simple precautions to prevent carjacking:

Be especially vigilant if you have a new and expensive vehicle.
Locking your doors when driving as well as when parked is the simplest and most effective way of keeping thieves on the right side of the windscreen, but it is often over looked!
If you plan to return to your vehicle after dark always park in well-lit areas.
Don't park in isolated or enclosed areas.
As you walk to your car be aware of your surroundings. Look for individuals loitering near your vehicle or perhaps following you. If it feels wrong, it probably is.
If you feel uneasy when returning to your vehicle, walk away and call the police.
Always enter the car quickly, lock the doors and drive away immediately.
When stopped in traffic avoid pulling up too close to the vehicle in front, leave room to manoeuvre allowing space to pull out of stationary traffic if required.
If you are lightly bumped in traffic be suspicious, especially if there is more than one passenger in the other vehicle. If you feel threatened take a note of the vehicle registration and drive to the nearest police station and report the accident.
Be aware of someone offering to help you to change a wheel because of a puncture.
Program important and emergency numbers into the speed dial of your phone.

Walking

Now you have successfully driven around London without becoming a crime statistic, the next big decision is should you contemplate walking or stick to the sanctuary offered by four-wheeled transport. Walking in town is generally the quickest and healthiest – post Christmas diet and exercise regime considered - form of transport. As far as we are aware, Ken hasn’t yet introduced a “pedestrian zone” so it’s still cheap.

Attacks on people are rare, but if you are a nervous individual or you are going somewhere you are unsure of, it' is worth being prepared by thinking and planning ahead. Preparation gives you confidence. Feeling and looking confident is the secret to not being perceived as a potential target.

Whilst attacks are made against both sexes, women remain the most vulnerable. Carry a personal attack alarm with you. If you haven’t got one, buy one. They are inexpensive and extremely effective. Carrying a personal alarm will increase confidence. Avoid dark underpasses or little-used shortcuts unless they are known to you and you are confident about them. Stick to well-used public areas.

If possible, dress for walking. That doesn’t mean hiking boots in Aldersgate. It just means clothes and shoes that are easy to walk in. Wear comfortable shoes or trainers and take posh shoes in a bag or leave a pair in the office – most New Yorkers do this as routine. Carry your bag slung across you with the bag at your front or tucked under your arm, not behind you. Walk facing oncoming traffic, do not walk close to shop doorways and always take a wide line around corners. If you think you're being followed, cross the road. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Try and remember these few rules when walking anywhere:

Know where you are going
Know the route
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. If your plans change tell them
If you have a mobile, take it with you
Carry a personal alarm
Walk tall and with confidence, even if lost!

Jogging

So you’ve decided to kick off the New Year’s resolution and get fit. Unfortunately the local gym isn’t doing free membership for residents so you’re going to have to pound the streets. Neglecting to wear anti-perspirant with tight nylon sports kit should keep most unwanted attention at bay but there are a few more environmentally friendly steps that can be taken.

Some of these considerations are the same as walking, such as planning your route and trying to stay in well lit busy areas. Try and plan a few different jogging routes and the time at which you set off. Again, try and remember to tell someone where you are going.
If you are running in a relatively lonely place such as a park or if it is early in the morning or late evening avoid wearing headphones. Headphones are a distraction and decrease your awareness to your surroundings.
Don’t push yourself to the absolute limit. If you are exhausted, defending yourself or escaping from an attacker could be impossible.
Remember to take your mobile phone and personal attack alarm, which you should have purchased by now!

Socializing

After all this walking and running you deserve a drink! Like most of the suggestions so far, the advice regarding socialising is mostly common sense. But common sense is soluble in alcohol. Alcohol clouds our judgment and often gives us misplaced confidence to do things that we would not ordinarily do and we’re not talking just Karaoke or eating Vindaloo! Try not to let your favourite tipple compromise your safety.

If you know you are going to have a few drinks, arrange a lift home, or pre-book a taxi. Wandering the streets trying to hail a cab when you’ve been drinking is hazardous. Most bars will phone a taxi for you. If they won’t, drink somewhere else. Always travel in black cabs or licensed mini cabs. Unlicensed cabs present really serious risks. The incidence of sexual assault is high, many drivers are uninsured and use false identities. Don’t get in one, even with friends!

In pubs and bars avoid leaving your drink unattended and, if offered a drink, watch it being bought. If you start to feel unwell in a bar, club or pub tell the bar tender immediately - don’t wait!

So that’s it then. Now you can sit walk, jog and drink with confidence and safety.

Next month, we’ll be telling you how, for your own protection, you can construct weapons of mass destruction using an empty washing up liquid container and the centres from a couple of toilet rolls. That should keep the enemy out of the Barbican!