Be Safe, with some practical and modern advice.
by Stoppared,
The following ideas have been drawn from several sources and my observations during my time involved in supplying security equipment and advice over the last few years.

We are constantly being told that crime is down, and we are safer than ever before, and yet it's the fear of crime that causes us the most issues. Here I hope to pass on some practical and up to date advice that will help you and your families to remain safe whilst making it much harder for opportunist criminals to thrive within our communities.

We are all very used to hearing the standard advice of, keep to well lit areas, carry an alarm, never walk alone late at night or take short cuts. While these are all very sound pieces of advice they only go so far, crime happens in well lit areas, often in relatively busy places. Simply sticking to well lit areas or standing near a CCTV camera might not be enough.
With some sensible precautions and a clear understanding of how criminals will select their victims you should hopefully never need to learn how to actually defend yourself physically.

So what can we do?
Talk to the local police, read the local newspaper, develop an interest in what happens in the places you regularly frequent. Understand the dangers as they apply to you and the places you find yourself.

Attacks never 'come from nowhere' Attacks are always the end of a chain of events and coincidence that you always have some control over. You have to learn to recognise the danger signals that precede an attack by becoming more aware of your surroundings and who is watching you.

Learn to appear confident and alert.
Avoid being under the influence of drink or drugs when out in public
Avoid getting lost or appearing pre-occupied, or being overly tired, or upset whilst out in public.
Make the opportunist look elsewhere, most opportunists do not need much to be dissuaded.
Put yourself in the position of the criminal.
Opportunist criminals are constantly on the look out for victims. They are experts at selecting those who will give them the least trouble, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. It is not a game to these people, there are no rules and fair play does not enter into it.

Think like an attacker.
If you were going to mug someone, where would you do it?
Who would you select and why?
The Lee Sansum Life Saving Colours©
Taken from Lee Sansum Family Awareness Training
Lee Sansum is former body guard for Diana, Princess of Wales. He has developed a 'traffic light system' for your personal safety. As the attack develops you will find yourself with a different light on the scale.

White - safe
White is used to describe any situation that is safe, for example at home or driving under normal conditions with the doors locked.

Green - location
Green is used to describe any situation you find yourself in a location that is public or contains strangers. The potential threats and level of danger will vary depending on all sorts of variable factors but you are aware that the potential for danger exists and you have relaxed and aware state of mind.

Amber - selection
Before you can be attacked the opportunist must first select you as a victim. But how do you know this has happened before the actual attack?
Warning signs include-
Seeing someone several times in a short space of time-attackers often pass their potential victim several times, what are the chances that the other person is visiting the same shops as you in exactly the same order? Or the chances of the other person following you through town and being parked next to your car in the car park? Also watch out for people's movements matching yours. What are the chances of someone walking and stopping at exactly the same time as you?
A person looking at you for an uncomfortable length of time, or someone who seems to be looking at you every time you look in their direction, or someone who appears nervous or agitated.

Red - approach
Before someone can attack you, they have to come close to you, or you have to approach them. If the person who has been watching you starts to walk towards you, or put themselves in a position where you have to pass close to them then you have a red light situation.
Turn around and walk in the opposite direction, cross the road, stop, nip into a shop, drive around the block, if you see a red light situation you should force the criminal into making a decision. Make him look obviously suspicious by confirming your doubts that you have been selected or pick on someone else.

Very often the opportunist will realise that the game is up, and kick themselves for targeting the wrong person. They do not want their victim to know they are being attacked until the actual attack.

Red is the time to physically prepare.

Black - interaction
If the victim has not been paying attention and the selection and approach have been successful this will lead to the final phase - the actual physical attack.
It might start with a verbal interaction- something to distract you, or perhaps something reassuring just in case you are on your guard.

An aggressive exchange, or a question you cannot answer without upsetting the attacker or a series of unreasonable demands. Many attackers have to build themselves up to a fight.
Then will come the physical interaction.

Ideally you want to always be in Green, if you ever find yourself in Amber or Red you need to act positively to remove yourself from the potential danger and in doing so make it clear to the opportunist that you are not an easy victim.

If you are caught out
Make a noise, opportunists do not like noise and the attention it might bring, use your attack alarm. Spray your StoppaRed marker spray to deter and confuse your attacker whilst making a noise and running away. The red dye and invisible UV dyes will increase the chances of the police catching the offender, and he will know that being covered in red dye is going to make it impossible to escape unseen.

Make your way to a place of safety after the incident, do not hang about or give your attacker the chance to 're-group' and come after you, this time with a score to settle!

You are safer now
Be confident because you have taken the time to understand the threats. The thought of suddenly being attacked 'from nowhere' does not apply to you because you understand the different phases of an attack.

Remember
Location
Selection
Approach
Interaction

Because you know the sequence of events, you know the routine and you have a better understanding of what the criminal is looking for and you can therefore develop ways of safely de-escalating the situation and making yourself a less likely victim.
If you sense that 'something' is wrong, it often is and sooner you spot it the less likely you be attacked.

For more information please contact your local Crime Prevention Officer, StoppaRed.com, or Lee Sansum Family Awareness Training Ltd.
© Stoppared & Lee Sansum Awareness Training Ltd. All rights reserved
STOPPARED.COM
Tel: 0115 7142444