Safety tips for women and children this festive season

Crime against women and children in this country remains a major concern. Protective tools like pepper spray are a good investment in ensuring your safety.

With the increasing number of cases of violence against women and children, local police stations have issued some safety tips to ensure everyone is safe this festive season.

The police have emphasised the importance for women and children to remain alert at all times and to memorise what is happening around them.

Here are some tips to bear in mind:
• Avoid walking alone in the dark or in quiet places, especially at night or in the early hours of the morning.

• Inform relatives, friends or a partner of where you are going, who you are going with and when you expect to be back.

• Before entering a taxi or any motor vehicle look if there are any suspicious characters and also keep a record of the registration number and colour of the vehicle.

• Try and memorise the route the driver takes.

• Remember the face of the driver and people inside the motor vehicle.

• Have the numbers of your relatives or police on speed dial.

• Avoid sleeping in the vehicle.

• Do not agree to having sex with anyone in exchange for a job or any alcohol favours.

• Don’t accept liquor from strangers.

• Don’t accept a lift from people you don’t know.

• When you feel you are drunk, call someone you know and trust to take you home.

• Avoid being on your cellphone all the time as it sometimes distracts you.

• If you are driving and are being followed, go to the nearest police station and report the matter.

• When someone goes missing; make sure that you report them to the nearest police station as soon as possible as there is no waiting period. Also, have as much information as possible and a recent photo of them.