Greenwood Park SAPS shares festive season safety tips for children and youth
SAPS urged caretakers and parents to keep an open line of communication and trust with their children.
AS schools close for the year and matric learners take a break after completing their final exams, many children and teens are out and about at parties or visiting local beaches and shopping malls.
The Greenwood Park SAPS has highlighted several safety tips for youth, parents and caretakers to keep in mind.
Captain Jerome Slater, spokesperson for the Greenwood Park SAPS, said officers distributed pamphlets on child safety to the public in preparation for the festive season.
“For children to be less vulnerable to dangerous situations, they must not be left alone at home or elsewhere where they can become susceptible to abuse, alcohol and drugs. Children must be taught to keep doors and windows locked. They must know their parents contact number and the number for the police. Children must know their street address. They must know that it’s okay to say, ‘no’ when faced with uncomfortable situations,” he said.
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Slater urged caretakers and parents to keep an open line of communication and trust with their children.
“There is no waiting period to report a missing person. Parents must keep a close watch over their children at swimming pools, beaches and busy shopping centres,” he added.
Alcohol makes teens vulnerable to crime
When matric learners consume alcohol at parties, cases of sexual assault and human trafficking are among the crimes that are often reported, said Slater.
He urged youth to refrain from drinking alcohol around strangers as being drunk could make youth more vulnerable to crime.
“With the matrics completing their examinations, they tend to consume more alcohol at parities. It is a concern that we are faced then with sexual assaults, assaults, murders, missing persons and human trafficking. It is mostly concerning that females who get too intoxicated are vulnerable. We are trying to warn youngsters- if they are drinking to be responsible,” he said.
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Youth are also warned to be vigilant when drinking and ensure their drink is not spiked.
“When you are paralytic drunk or your drink has been spiked, it is difficult to fight off your attacker. It is difficult to control Covid-19, but alcohol can control. They can control who they are with, what they are drinking and how much they are drinking and how they are getting home,” he added.
Slater also warned youth to be vigilant when catching taxis as there have been cases where criminals posing as taxi drivers have robbed teens.
To report crime, call SAPS on 10111 or call the Greenwood Park SAPS on 031 571 6512.
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