Security Tips

When withdrawing money from cash points make sure you never let yourself be distracted by people interrupting to talk to you - especially saying you have dropped something. I have had someone do this and when I looked around they tried to grab my card from the machine! (posted by Emily from London - 10/10/2008)

• Avoid danger areas like quiet or badly-lit streets, alleyways, subways or isolated car parks.
  
• Always take the route you know best, avoid taking shortcuts and try to use well-lit, busy streets.
  
• Avoid passing stationary cars with their engines running and people sitting in them.
  
• Try to keep both hands free and don't walk with your hands in your pockets.
  
• Walk facing on-coming traffic to avoid curb crawlers.
  
• If you think you are being followed, trust your instincts and take action. As confidently as you can, cross the road, turning and look to see who is behind you. If you are still being followed, keep moving. Make for a busy area and tell people what is happening. If necessary, call the police.
  
• It is a good idea to keep a mobile phone, phone card or spare change with you, even if it's a quick journey down the road, to enable you to make a call if necessary.
  
• If a vehicle pulls up suddenly alongside you, turn and walk in the other direction - you can turn much faster than a car.
  
• To reduce risks, try to wear clothes that allow you to move easily and shoes that are comfortable and try not to keep all your valuables in one place, instead keep valuables such as wallets in an inside pocket.
  
• If you are confronted by an attacker asking for your valuables such as your handbag, never hand it to them, try and throw it away from you, this will distract them and give you time to get away.

• There is nothing wrong with going out and enjoying yourself but it is good to be practical and safe. If you're planning to have quite a few drinks, make sure there's someone around who's going to stay sober. Keep some emergency money for a taxi in your bra or your boot and make sure you never walk home alone.
• Carry a personal attack alarm - use it to shock and disorientate an attacker. This will gain vital seconds for you to get away.
  Flight is generally a safer option for women than fight. Keep a pair of flats in your handbag so you can change shoes if you feel restricted by your heels.
• Watch your drink; it's easy for someone to slip a substance into your drink. Finish it before you go to the loo, or just leave it and buy another when you get back.
• If meeting someone on a first date:
  - Meet in a public place with other people around.
  - Do tell a friend or a member of your family that you're meeting someone and where your meeting is taking place and when you expect to be back.
  - Do get as many details as you can. When it comes to your personal safety, you have the right to snoop.
  - Don't give him your address, by all means give him your phone number but be careful not to let him know where you live until you know him better.
  - Arrange your own transport to and from the meeting, don't let him give you a lift. You wouldn't accept a lift with anyone else you hardly knew, would you?

• Think about where you are going and how to get there. Plan your route to avoid deserted streets and dark parks or alleyways.
• Avoid wearing headphones or chatting on your mobile when walking down the street alone, as this will prevent you from hearing any danger warning signals.
• Carry a personal attack alarm. They are not just for women. Use it to shock and disorientate an attacker. This will gain vital seconds for you to get away.
• If you hear or see trouble ahead, cut off or turn around before you get to it and head to the nearest safe place, such as a garage, police station or anywhere where there will be lots of people.
• Remember, alcohol severely affects your ability to make safe judgments. The majority of violent attacks on young men take place in or around licensed premises. Think about how much you drink and plan your journey home before your first drink rather than after your tenth.
• If you are trapped in an aggressive situation, then try and stay calm and talk your way out of it. Physical self-defence should only be a last resort. It limits your options and commits you to a fight you could lose. It is not weak to walk away from violence.
• If you see someone else being attacked, it is not always the best idea to rush over to help as this could escalate the problem and you too could end up being attacked. It may be better to stand back at a safe distance and call loudly for help and use your mobile to phone the police. Seeing what you are doing should stop the attacker, whilst leaving you safe.

• Keep anything of value, such as bags or mobile phones out of sight - they make easy pickings for a snatch thief in stop-go traffic, especially if left on the front passenger seat.
• Keep a few basic items in the glove compartment or boot of your car in case of emergencies; a full petrol can (regulations say you can keep up to 10 litres in a can in your car), ice-scraper, coins for meters, details of your breakdown service, a torch, a blanket (in case you breakdown) and a first-aid kit.
• Lock the doors whenever you are in the car. If you are in an accident, windows can easily be broken to get you out. You are much safer driving along with the doors locked. Keep windows closed in busy areas and use the sunroof or fan for ventilation.
• If you think you are being followed, keep driving to the nearest busy place or police station.
  If you feel threatened by another driver, a mobile phone is a good way to ward off unwanted attention. Phone or pretend to phone the police and make it obvious you're noting the car registration number. There is a good chance they will stop pestering you out of fear of being caught.
• If a car pulls in front of you and forces you to stop, never switch off the engine. Stay calm and ensure all your doors and windows are locked. If the driver leaves his car to approach you, reverse as far as you can while continually sounding the horn and activating your hazard lights.
• When parking the car:
  - Avoid poorly-lit car parks
  - Always reverse into a space; it allows you to get away quicker if feeling threatened.
  - Note exactly where you have parked and always have your keys ready so you can get in quickly.
  - If you collect a ticket on entering the car park, do not leave it in the car, as this will make it easier for a thief to get away with your vehicle.
  - On returning to your vehicle, you notice a van is parked next to you, to reduce risks try and get in to your vehicle from the other side. Once you are in the car, lock the doors immediately and drive off quickly.
• Never leave vehicle documents in your car. Your registration document, MOT and insurance certificate will help the thief sell your vehicle.

• Modern gas cookers are fairly safe but may still be dangerous if not used correctly. The gas should always be switched off properly otherwise you may fill your home with highly explosive gas.
• If you are cooking flammable oils or fats on your cooker, it is very easy for the flame to transfer to the pan. Never put water on it and never use a fire extinguisher. The current recommendation from the UK fire service is simply to: 'Get out, stay out, and call the emergency services'.
• Install an extractor fan to reduce the build up of toxic fumes in the kitchen.
• Water leaks can cause great and costly damage. In the event of burst or frozen pipes, turn off your water, switch off any water heating systems and immediatley switch off the mains electrical supply.

• If you smell gas, open doors and windows. Do not turn on any electrical items. Use a mobile phone outside of your house, and well away from the source of the suspected leak.
• Contact the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. For the deaf or hearing impaired with a Minicom or Textphone, the number to call is 0800 371 787.
• They will repair and fix the gas leak completely free of charge if it's found to be external to your property. If there is an internal gas leak, the National Gas Emergency Service is only allowed to spend 30 minutes as a maximum in their attempt to locate and repair the problem. If they are unable to help during this time, they might have to shut off all or part of the gas supply completely. Only a CORGI registered heating engineer is legally qualified to carry out safe repairs. Your Protect your bubble Home Emergency policy can help you with gas leaks in your property. Please check the full policy terms and conditions for details.

• Where possible, install all electrical goods and outlets outside roughly 4 feet from the ground.
• Ensure gutters and water run-offs are clear and unblocked.
• When the storm breaks, turn off all electrical items.
• Turn off central heating supply.
• If safe to do so, get your vehicles to high ground.
• Sandbag your property if there is a high risk to flooding.
• If in risk of flooding, move electrical and precious items upstairs or as high up as possible. Put your fridge on bricks and keep important documents in plastic bags and in a safe dry place.

• Fit approved smoke detectors on each floor. Choose a smoke alarm that is mains operated or one with a long life (ten year) battery. Regularly test batteries within smoke alarms.
• Chip pans are one of the most common causes of fire - never fill a pan more than one-third full of fat and oil. If a chip pan fire starts, turn off the heat and, if safe to do so, cover with a damp cloth and leave to cool up to 30 minutes.
• A lit cigarette or pipe can be fatal. Never leave a lit cigarette or pipe unattended. If left a brim of an ashtray, it may fall onto an armchair or carpet and soon catch fire.
• All electrical appliances (other than those designed to be left on all the time) should be switched off or unplugged when not in use.
• Never put several adaptors on one socket; you could overheat a socket and be at risk of fire. Always make sure plugs and adaptors have the right fuse for the appliance you are using.
• When buying new equipment, watch out for BEAB safetymark, which means the item has been tested and approved by the British Electro- technical Board.
• Look out for the warning signs of dangerous wiring, suchas hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow for no reason, lights flickering or brown scorch marks on sockets or plugs.
• Keep fires and heaters well-guarded, in particular open fires. For fitted or portable heaters with a built in guard, provide addtional protection by adding a surrounding guard when children or older people are in the home. For children, use a nursery guard with side clips that fit into fixed wall brackets.
• Do not dry or air clothes over or near the fire or the cooker.
• In case of emergencies, try to plan your or your family's escape route. Remember to "Get Out, Stay Out" and call the fire brigade.

• Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, given off by appliances that use coal, gas, wood or oil if they're not working properly, if the flue is blocked or the room is not properly ventilated.
• Carbon monoxide can be detected with the following danger signs such as gas flames that normally burn blue burn orange or yellow instead, soot stains appear on or around appliances;  coal or wood fires burn slowly or go out, the room is not properly ventilated. Look out for the following unexplained physical symptoms of tiredness, drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, chest pains or nausea.  If you develop any of the above symptoms, switch off all appliances and see your doctor immediately.
• It is important to ensure rooms are ventilated. Never block air vents. If double glazing or draught-proofing is fitted,  there must still be enough air circulating for any heaters in the room.
• Make sure that all chimneys and flues are regularly swept by a competent sweep and kept clear. This includes chimneys being used as flues for gas fires and essential for solid fuel appliances.
• Boilers and heating systems and appliances should be installed, maintained and regularly serviced by a competent engineer (make sure they are CORGI-registered for gas appliances).
• Check when your boiler or heating appliances were last serviced when you move house or at your existing residence.
• Carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased. These should comply with British Standard BS 7860. Never rely on them entirely. as they are only a warnign device.  You should also ensure your applicances are regularly serviced and maintained.
• Never cook on a barbecue inside your home, charcoal gives off carbon monoxide.

 

• Brakes
• Lights
• Tyres (wear and pressures)
• Steering/Suspension
• Screen washers and wipers

It also pays to check the most common causes of breakdowns:

• Oil
• Coolant
• Drive belts
• Ignition system
• Sufficient fuel

Plan the journey in advance:

• Check travel news
• Plan alternative routes to avoid traffic
• Build in extra time to your journey

• Take regular rests - every two hours is recommended.
• Book overnight stops where necessary.
• If you're feeling sleepy, have a nap for 15 minutes.
  

• If you're driving abroad, check the rules of the road.
• Assume street lights/lamp posts mean 30mph unless there are signs showing otherwise.
  

• Leave at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front. Double this distance on wet roads and increase it even further on icy roads.
• Try no higher than 3rd gear in a 30 mph limit - It is easier to notice if you are creeping above 30 mph when traveling in 3rd gear, and this can act as a warning to reduce your speed.
• When entering villages, begin to slow down as you see the speed limit sign ahead so that you have already reduced your speed to 30 mph by the time reach the speed limit sign.

• If you breakdown on a motorway and you cannot drive any further, a marker post every 100 metres will point you to the nearest phone. They are situated every 1000 metres. Be ready to tell the person who answers: the number on the marker; your car registration; and the name of your motoring organisation.
• Never cross the carriageway to reach a closer phone.
• Switch on your hazard lights.

• Most burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves. In two out of ten burglaries, they don't even have to use force; they get in through an open door or window. If your front or back doors are not secure, neither is your home. Remove opportunities for burglars. Take simple steps to make sure your home is secure - for example, locking doors and windows when you are out of the house, when you are going to bed or even when you are alone.
• If you do not already have one, consider installing a security system.
• Safety lights that are triggered by movement can also be useful burglar deterrents.
• All external doors and windows should be fitted with secure locks. Mortice deadlocks kitemarked to at least BS3621 are recommended, especially for final exits to your home. You will find the kitemark and other details on the metal plate in the edge of the door.
• A mortice lock fits into a hole cut into the door and has keyholes on both sides, creating a deadlock. It is the most secure type of lock, as the door frame has to be broken in order to get past it.
• Try not to leave keys in a place where they can be seen from outside your home.
• Be careful, burglars often check to see if people have hidden spare keys outside their homes or put them on a string attached to the letterbox. Consider fitting a letterbox cage that prevents thieves from putting their hands in and trying the locks from the inside.
• Avoid attaching your name or address to keys. If they were lost or stolen, they could make a burglar's job very easy.
• Chains on doors can help you to identify callers without opening the door fully, and make forced entry even more difficult. Remember to use the chain at night and every time that you open the door.
• Check that door hinges are sturdy and secured with long, strong screws. For added security fit hinge bolts. These help to reinforce the hinge side of the door against the use of force.
• Automatic deadlock - this locks automatically when the door is closed, but when locked with the key, cannot be opened again without using the key, either from outside or inside the home.
• Door viewers enable you to identify callers prior to opening the door.
• Make sure the house is well-lit, inside and out, and that it looks as though you are there even when you are not.
• In the event of a break-in, your personal safety always comes first. Leave your home; the burglar may still be inside and they may be armed and violent. Go to a neighbour if possible and contact the police from their phone or your own mobile (don't use the handset in your own home, the police may want to take finger prints). The police will give you a crime reference number. Make a note of this. Then contact us as soon as possible after the incident.

When traveling abroad:

• Lock all the doors and windows.
• Cancel milk and paper deliveries.
• Turn off water at the mains.
• Ask neighbours to keep an eye on your home and make sure they have an emergency contact number for you or email address.
• Leave a spare key with family or friends.
• Ensure pets are looked after.
• Place some lights inside your home on variable timing devices.

• Keep Alert
• Be aware of what is around at all times
• Travel during daylight hours, if possible
• lf available, use valet service
• Confirm flight time, arrive at airport early
• Say good-byes at the curb
• Move immediately through security check area to the departure lounge
• Say no if asked to carry any bags or packages for strangers or, for that matter, friends, unless you are certain of what is inside
• Say no if asked to watch luggage
• Move away from any disturbance or anyone receiving exceptional attention
• Don't leave your baggage unattended, even for a minute

Aircraft

• Check under your seat for left luggage
• Don't give any personal information to fellow passengers
• Take note of the emergency exits

Arrival

• Select your taxi carefully, don't ride in unlicensed cabs (during your stay: when ordering a Radio Taxi by phone mention  o-n-l-y  the area you want to be taken to - not the exact address!)
• Learn how to operate the telephone and carry enough coins or tokens to use a pay phone
• Know who will be meeting you, their names and appearance. lf there has been a change, call to check it out. Don't go with anyone you do not trust
• Avoid dangerous areas of cities

Hotel

• Meet visitors in the hotel lobby - don't give out your room number
• Make sure to chain lock your door while you are there
• Make sure your room number is not overheard while obtaining your key at the front desk
• Check your exit options, count the number of doors to the nearest exit, and learn how to work the escape systems
• Do not leave valuables or important information (such as your itinerary) in your room unless stored in the room safe
• Do not conduct sensitive conversations over the hotel telephone or fax sensitive information
• In case of fire: Do not open your door if it is hot. If smoke or fire is in the corridor, shut your door and seal it with wet bedding and towels. Open a window, unless smoke comes in from outside. If possible, evacuate immediately, placing a wet towel around your mouth, taking your room key and crouching low near the floor. Do not use elevators

Street

• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings; keep an eye on belongings and your hand on your valuables
• Do not pay with large bills or count currency in public
• Stay away from crowds and don't investigate a disturbance; just leave. Even peaceful gatherings can turn ugly
• Carry the phone numbers of emergency contacts - e.g. your host, organisation, and diplomatic representation
• Always carry an ID card or a copy of it - a legal requirement in many countries
• Guard against pickpockets
• Keep your distance from the curb
• If you are followed, change direction and enter a well-lighted business establishment
• If a car follows you, turn and walk the opposite way

Car

• Carjacking is on the increase!
• Do not drive yourself in a city or country with which you are unfamiliar
• Select a rental car with a lockable trunk which is as inconspicuous as possible
• Ask the rental agent about driving laws and customs, road signs and maps
• Carefully check your travel route on a street map in advance
• Be aware of areas you should avoid
• Keep your car doors locked at all times and the windows closed
• Be careful where you park your car
• Always lock your car when unattended and avoid leaving valuables in the car

• Check that your passport is valid and that you have the correct visas - and remember to pack it with your hand luggage!
• For certain countries, your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you travel; check before you go. 
•  When packing, do not put valuables in 'checked-in' baggage.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary and contact details, such as an email address, with family or friends.
• Leave photocopies of your passport and insurance policy together with a list of travellers cheques and travel ticket details with family or friends.
• Get adequate travel insurance cover - check that your cover is appropriate for your trip.
• Arrange the correct travel vaccinations, if this is needed.
• Get a good guidebook and find out more about your destination, including local laws and customs.
• Get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) form for each family member. If you are visiting a country of the European Union, the EHIC is proof that you are entitled to the reciprocal health agreements existing between Britain and that country. The EHIC form is available from the Post Office or the DSS.
• Take a photocopy of each EHIC - if you require treatment, the original form will be held by the hospital / treating doctor.

General

• Keep a low profile
• Learn at least a few phrases in the local language
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with your family
• Go through your carry-on luggage to remove items not needed or which pose a security risk, such as: 
  Excess credit cards, Membership- or ID- cards for any group that may be targeted
  Business cards with provocative information or revealing national, ethnic or religious affiliation
  Political, religious or sexually explicit literature
  Anything that looks like a weapon
  Expensive or religious jewelry

Essentials

Depending on your situation, consider bringing:

• All necessary official documents (e.g. passport, visa)
• Photocopy of passport and tickets or a list of essential information (carried separately)
• A list of credit card numbers and loss-notification numbers
• Enough money in the local currency inclusive coins or tokens to use a pay phone
• Enough of any required medication to survive delays, carried in original container with prescription
• Laptops and notebooks if you must (carry them in your hand luggage)
• Any medical or personal hygiene products which you use periodically, in case of recurring chronic problems  

Dressing

Dress to blend in with the foreign environment - Keep a low profile

• Leave behind expensive jewelry and clothes that mark you as a wealthy foreigner
• Be conscious of local norms in dress, speech, etc.

Luggage

Travel with secure luggage:

• Locked, non-descript luggage, secured with a strap (hard luggage is safer)
• Use closed-faced luggage tags
• Carry-on bag with necessities in case of lost luggage
• Travel light

• Eat and drink safely; serious illnesses are often contracted from contaminated food. Always wash your hands before eating and handling food. Eat fresh and thoroughly cooked food that is still piping hot; avoid food that has been kept warm.
• Drink bottled water if in doubt of the quality of water and check the seals are unbroken.
• Avoid uncooked fruit or vegetables unless you can peel them yourself, avoid undercooked or raw seafood or shellfish and avoid milk, cheese and other dairy products unless they are pasteurised and have been properly refrigerated.