The Tamworth Community Safety Partnership is running a campaign this Valentines Day to help promote the importance of personal safety. The partnership will be holding drop-in sessions for shoppers where they can seek advice and guidance as well as pick up a free personal safety pack including an attack alarm.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about personal safety and the dangers that people can face when they are dating and the fact that the majority of attacks on both men and women are committed by people known by the victim.

Councillor Mary Oates, portfolio holder for Quality of Life explains: “Whether you are meeting someone you have met online, through a friend or someone you have known for years you should still be cautious and act sensibly.”

The event will run from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 9 February 2010 from the Old Works Shop in Ankerside and free information and guidance will be given out. Information packs will be available for parents especially relating to young people and the dangers of the internet. The Fire and Rescue service, a crime prevention officer, Trading standards and victim support will also be on hand.

The Tamworth Community Safety Partnership has highlighted a few essential tips to follow to help people have a fun but safe date this Valentines Day:

• If you are replying to a lonely heart’s advert or chatting to someone online, never give personal details such as your address or surname. It is not unknown for address details to be obtained by having just a telephone number, so be guarded about giving out your telephone number.
• Always arrange to meet in a busy public place, preferably in the daytime, until you are sure of the other person’s identity and feel comfortable about them.
• Try and take a friend along, at least at the beginning, to meet your date. Work out a pre-arranged signal with your friend to indicate whether you would prefer your friend to stay with you.
• Tell someone where you are going, who with (including name, phone number and address) and when you will be back.
• Initially do not go home with your date and do not invite them back to your home or accept a lift.
• Carry a personal alarm and know how to use it to shock and disorientate an assailant so that you can get away if required.
• Pay attention to your instincts. If you feel uneasy about someone, there may be a reason. Do not tell yourself that you are being silly. Be careful not to give them personal details about yourself and do not arrange a second date.

• Get a friend to text you at an agreed time into the date. That way if you want to leave, you can pretend there is an emergency, and if you do not reply, your friend can figure out if you are in trouble.
• Remember that alcohol and drug use will dull your awareness of danger, will reduce your ability to make safe choices and will make you look more vulnerable.

Report any incident as soon as possible. You may save somebody else.

Do not assume it will never happen to you. Even though the risks are slight, they are there – so think about your personal safety and take steps to help you avoid becoming another victim.