Festive Safety Advice Issued by Hounslow Council
Councillor joins community safety team to give out free anti-theft devices
The team set up its stall on Chiswick High Road
December 28, 2024
The community safety team in Hounslow borough took to the streets in the run up to Christmas to give advice on staying safe over the Christmas holiday period.
A stall was set up on Chiswick High Road along with the police to provide information to residents and Cllr Raghwinder Siddhu, the Cabinet Member for Public Safety, Regulatory Services and Enforcement, came along to assist.
The team spoke with shoppers and Christmas revellers telling them about potential dangers and what to do if they are concerned.
The High Road stall included guidance on the Ask for Angela campaign, the UK-wide scheme for anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need
The team were also giving out anti-spiking devices, including covers for bottles and glasses, panic alarms, and even bells to attach to handbags and purses to thwart pickpockets.
Councillor Siddhu said that despite being one of the safest boroughs with some of the lowest crime rates in London, he wanted to ensure that nothing spoilt people’s evenings.
Cllr Siddhu with the team in Chiswick
He said, “It’s great to see people out enjoying themselves and having fun at this time of year. But unfortunately, when we have a few drinks and let our guard down there are those who want to exploit that.
“One thing that became clear from the night was that we have a duty to keep reinforcing these public safety messages.
“It’s important that we spread the word, so it becomes second nature. So, please keep an eye on your belongings, report anything suspicious and most of all do take care of yourselves and your friends.”
Remember:
• If you're out with others, try to stay together.
• When travelling at night, book a taxi or get a lift with someone you trust.
• Stand in a well-lit place near other people when waiting for a bus.
• Try to avoid empty train carriages
• Be aware of what's around you
• Keep a close eye on your drinks and never leave them unattended at any time.
• Stay in well-lit areas
• Plan a route home
• Stick to places you know
More information about the national ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme can be found here:
Ask for Angela | Metropolitan Police
Value Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |