Objectives
To promote a sense of awareness on preventive issues among the community.
To secure the community’s involvement in the fight against crime.
To instil in the younger generation the basic concept of good citizenship and law abiding principles.
To reduce the fear of crime and improve the quality of life of citizens.
To enhance Police-Public relationship.

Social definition of crime
" Any unlawful or antisocial act or acts which give rise to public anxiety and which interfere with the quality of life of citizens"

For a crime to occur it needs three factors to be present at the same time, TARGET/VICTIM - CRIMINAL - OPPORTUNITY/SITUATION. Remove or change one and the whole equation is altered. Reduction of OPPORTUNITY can significantly decrease the rate of crime

When at Home

Check and if necessary, strengthen the security of your house or flat.
Draw your curtain after dark. If you think there is a prowler outside don’t go out to check- dial 999.
When you are at home, keep the door locked. Don’t leave keys in the door lock.
When answering the telephone don’t give your number. If the caller claims to have a wrong number, ask him or her to repeat the number required. Never reveal an information about yourself to a stranger and never say that you are alone in the house.
If you get home and notice signs of a break-in, a broken window or the door ajar, do not go in or call out, the intruder could still be inside. Go to a neighbour’s house and call the police. Dial 999.
Out on Foot - Security Tips for women
Plan your route ahead of time. Never walk alone at night. Walk with a friend or your dog.
Use well lit streets; not dark alleys or bushy areas.
Avoid short cuts, through dimly lit alleys or across waste lands.
Walk facing the traffic, so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
Never ask for or accept a ride from strangers.
Cover up expensive looking jewellery.
If you are going out late try to arrange for a transport. Book a taxi. Ask the driver to wait until you are inside.
Clutch your bag tightly to your body. A dangling bag is an invitation and if someone does grab the bag, let it go rather than risk injury by fighting.
If you regularly go jogging or cycling try to vary your route and time.
Avoid using isolated bus stop.

PROTECTION THE ELDERLY

Cover up expensive looking jewellery when going out alone to the market, the medical practitioner or to the chemist.
Beware of pick pockets during pay days (pension).
Avoid short cuts whilst going to the bank or returning home.
Never accept lift from a stranger or people you have just met.
If in danger scream to draw attention for help.
It is always advisable to be accompanied whilst going out to the hospitals, banks or the post offices.
If you are alone at home, never open to a stranger. Talk to him through the window.
Check the credentials of any stranger before you open the door fully. Ask to see the identity card.
Keep friendly relationship with your neighbours. They will be the first persons to help in case of need.
Never keep large sum of money in your house. Cash is safer in banks and in post offices

PROTECTING YOUR CHILDREN-KIDS CARE

To be Safe .Teach children that everyone has rights, no one should take away their right to be safe.
To Protect their own bodies. Children need to know that their body belongs to them. They must say NO to whosoever touches particularly the private part.
To Say NO. Children have to say NO to any one if that person tries to harm them.
To get help against bullies. Tell children to enlist the help of friends or an adult in cases of real physical danger.
Keeping them safe is the most important consideration. Tell children not to fight to protect their belongings against bullies.
To tell. Reassure your children that no matter what happens, you will not be angry with them and that you want them to tell you of any incident.
To be believed. Children need to be believed and supported, especially in cases of sexual assault as children very rarely lie about it.
To not keep secret. Teach children that some secrets should NEVER be kept, no matter if they promised not to tell. Child molesters often say that a kiss or touch is " our secret".
To not talk to strangers. Teach children to ignore any stranger. They do not have to be rude, they can pretend not to hear - walk quickly or run away.
To break rules. Tell children that they have your permission to break all rules to protect themselves and to stay safe.

Safety Tips for Teenages

If possible go out accompanied by friends and return home with them.

If you do go out alone, arrange transport to and from where you are going, with a relative, friend or taxi and confirm arrangement for your return journey before you set off.

Don’t accept the offer of a lift from someone you have just met.

If any one calls don’t let him/her into the house.

Ask telephone callers to ring back, don’t tell them you are alone. It helps to keep a list of emergency numbers in case of problems.

Wherever you are be aware of how to make an emergency call and the quickest way out.

AFTER AN AGGRESSION

Go to a place where you will feel more secure.

Inform a friend, a doctor or the Police.

The sooner the case is reported, the better it will be for the early arrest of the aggressor.

Don’t wash yourself or change your clothing prior to an examination by the Police Medical Officer

Don’t forget you are only the VICTIM. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY of what happened. Your help to track down the attacker is solicited before he relapses

Burglar Alarm System

- Alarm systems are useful for early detection of intrusion.
- If your possions are worth a lot of money or you live in an area prone to burglaries, consider acquiring a burglar alarm.
- Quality fitted alarms will certainly act as deterrents, making burglars think twice.
- Ranging from inexpensive to sophisticated ones, there are scores of burglar alarms available on the local market.
- These systems usually take 3-4 hrs to fit. Wired alarms are cheaper but take longer - around a day to install.

How to help prevent moto/auto cycle or bicycle theft.

When not in use, moto/auto cycle or bicycles should be kept inside of locked buildings or house, both by day and by night.
When parking your moto/auto cycle or bicycle - place it in an area where you or other people passers-by can see it.
Use a strong moto/auto cycle or bicycle lock or chain to secure it.
Lock it on a special moto/auto cycle or bicycle parking spot or chain it to a strong pole.
If you see anyone attempting to steal your or another persons moto/auto cycle and bicycle, notify any responsible person of what you see and ask them to call the Police.
Be prepared to identify the person or persons whom you observed stealing or attempting to steal your moto/auto cycle or bicycle.
Know your own moto/auto cycle or bicycle and be prepared to give descriptive information about your bicycle, if stolen.
Keeping your car safe

People at times steal a car for a joy ride. Others steal a car to remove some valuable accessories and sell them.

Help the Police to reduce car theft opportunities by fulfilling your responsibilities in properly securing your car whenever left unattended.

When you park, remove ignition keys.
Secure all doors, windows and vents.
Unlocked windows and doors are invitations to car thefts
Transfer clothes and personal property to a locked trunk prior to final parking.
At night park in a well lighted area. Consider of an alarm or circuit breaker.

" Failing to plan

means

Planning to fail"

Preparation
You are strongly advised to use a suitable vehicle fitted with steel cash box, radio communication and an alarm system. You may be required to do it with the firm’s van or a company car.

Warning
The Police Crime Prevention Unit, hereby advices you about certain precaution you should take to minimise the risks involved in this type of exercise.

Plan the route
If cash transit is to be a regular task, try to vary your route and timings. Use a different vehicle from time to time. Keep your plan secret. Consider the use of safe. Plan for alternate route - escape in case of attack.

The crucial moment
The high risk time occurs when ENTERING or LEAVING the vehicle with the money.

Before leaving the bank or office, check around outside the building for anyone loitering or for suspicious vehicle parked nearby.

If in DOUBT, stay inside until the route to the vehicle is clear.

At your destination, with the cash, remain inside the vehicle until you are satisfied that all is CLEAR.

The escort
The escort, if any, should leave the vehicle before the cash carrier, then both must enter the building as quickly as possible.

Minor accident
During the journey don’t leave the vehicle if you are involved in what appear to be a minor accident. Beware of staged accident.

Cultivate and adopt suspicious attitudes
Don’t speak to suspicious persons. Bear in mind that a malifactor could work under disguise. This trick has already been used in a number of occasions.

What you should do if you are being tailed
Once you are suspicious, slow down to allow the tailing vehicle to overtake or make a detour of your planned route to see if it stays behind you.
If the vehicle keeps following you, drive directly to a place of safety.
Note the vehicle registration and description and pass this information on to the Police immediately.

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme helps to overcome this problem by encouraging mass responsibility to crime prevention by increasing a regional control among the community and to show to would-be offenders that once an offence has been committed it will be easily detected.

In fact vigilance helps to create a cohesion in the community where community members share collective responsibility for the prevention of crime. In this regard, a cohesive community is extremely important. They can explore a very far horizon for members to enable them to share a common interest above crime prevention, as regards charitable and social activities which will give a sense of pride and belonging to the community.

Why set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
Schemes usually start where residents or the Police in an area identify a crime problem and want to reduce it. However, the benefits of setting up a watch can go beyond reducing the level of crime in the scheme area. It can also reduce the fear of crime in the neighbourhood and thus encouraging good relationship between the Police and the Community. It can also help residents to get to know one another.

How does the N.W.S work ?

There are three basic ways in which all members of a scheme can help the Police to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the area :

Looking out for your neighbourhood
Residents of watch areas are encouraged to be on the look out for suspicious behaviours. The Police Crime Prevention Unit is ready to offer guidance on what to look out for and the information they need when you report anything.

Details are very important. Whilst giving information remember precise description about persons and vehicles. This will help Police not to waste precious time and to avoid confusion.

Here is the information Police will need :-

An exact description of what you have seen
Time
Place
Person/s involved- approximate age, sex, height, build, particular characteristics, dress - any particular trait.
Number of vehicles involved, plate number ( even part of plate number) make , colour and direction taken.
Watch schemes are not intended to encourage members of the public " to have a go" or set themselves up as a vigilance force apart from the Police. Watch has always been and must remain a partnership between the Police and the Public, the public are the additional eyes and ears but the Police retain the active role when dealing with actual or suspected crime.

Securing the Home

To reduce the attractiveness of their homes to the opportunist thief, house holders are given advice on how to improve their security. They are also encouraged to use security already installed and to look after the home of other scheme members when they are away.

Setting up of a N.W.S

Police advice is essential when setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Residents should share their enthusiasm and every opportunity be given to every one to join in. No one should feel that he is left out. Sizes of watch schemes vary in some areas.

Each scheme needs a co-ordinator who will be the contact point for the Police and for members of the scheme. He or she will need to be able to give up a few hours each week for meeting with the members, with the Police, with other co-ordinators and for the benefit of the watch.

Once an area has been designated, the first step is to arrange a meeting of as many people who live within the watch area as possible. At this meeting local and Crime Prevention Officers will explain in details how the scheme can be more effective and will outline the service the Police can provide.

The island has much to offer to make of your holidays the most memorable moments of your life. To enable you to enjoy your stay to the maximum, we would like to remind you of the following safety hints:-

Cars, cash, credit cards, valuables are some of the items likely to be stolen. A good way to prevent such untoward occurrences is to ensure that:

Valuable and money are kept in the hotel safe
Cars should be properly locked when parked
Parking is done in a well lit area
No valuable items to be left on display inside the car
On going out shopping always remember to:

Keep your purse safe at all times
Use a handbag with a secure clasp or zip. Keep it shut so that your purse cannot be reached
Avoid displaying large sum of cash in public places
Be particularly cautious in crowded situations - look out for pickpockets
Don’t walk alone in lonely and badly lit streets
Carry your passport and air ticket only when you need to
When on sightseeing tours, never leave your vehicle unattended

Beware of fake guides

When going out for a swim don’t leave your valuables unattended on the beach