In total, there were just over 15,000 knifepoint muggings and robberies – some so vicious that victims were murdeered for their personal possessions – with over half of these reported muggings taking place in London.

We understand that it is difficult to control knife crime on the streets. Cuts in the policing infrastructure won’t help either. However, what we can do is offer some form of help to help keep you safe if you are ever confronted with a knifepoint mugging.

In general, the best advice is to hand over your phone or any other personal belongings such as credit cards etc.. Mobile phones can be replaced, bank cards can be cancelled. It’s most likely that the mugger will be highly agitated and if they have a weapon such as a knife on themselves they may be intent on physical harm.

Try to remain calm and non-confrontational. Carry a personal alarm as this can be activated and give you valuable seconds to make your escape if the situation worsens and you feel you are likely to be attacked. Once the ordeal is over, report the crime to the nearest police station, don’t bottle things up, it’s understandable that people get extremely emotional after being confronted with a knife crime. However, if you report it to the police, your actions might stop the same ordeal happening to some other individual.

Personal alarms make perfect stocking filler presents as they’ve been crafted over the years to mimic fashion accessories for your bag, purse or keyring. Personal alarms are light to carry around, inexpensive and most importantly can help someone you love in desperate times of need.

Here at Crime Prevention Products we have a wide range of Personal Alarms that will fit snugly inside any xmas stocking, and could possibly turn out to be the best Christmas present they’ve ever received!

Christmas shopping is a stressful enough time without having to endure the upsetting experience of finding yourself robbed or pickpocketed. To ensure that no one simply walks away with your money, we’d like to take this opportunity to publish a few tips to help protect your cash…

• When taking money out of any bank ‘ATM’, make sure that no one can invade your space and ‘sneak a peek’ at your PIN number.
• Once your cash is dispensed, place it somewhere safe before you walk away from the bank.
• Never place you cash or wallet in your back pocket – pickpockets love this and will see you as an easy target.
• Never take your cash out and count it in public, this will advertise to everyone that you have money.
• When out shopping in busy stores and market places always ensure that your bag is kept securely closed.

One good tip is, if you happen to be carrying a lot of money, then try and separate your money into different pockets, purses and wallets! That way, if any pickpocket happens to get their hands on your money, they’ll not have stolen your full amount and you’ll still have some to continue shopping.

However, there can be a darker side to the Office Christmas Party festivities. As the drink flows, inhibitions will disappear and the courage to chat to other employees, you’d normally avoid, emerges. In all this inebriated spirit, body signals interpreted wrongly through booze or drugs can quickly develop into something else entirely.

Unfortunately, reported sex attack/assault figures do rise around the Christams Party period – too much heavy drinking given as the reason, either by the victim or the offender. Victims have also had their drinks spiked by rape drugs – so it is essential that even though ‘you let your hair down‘ you never let your guard down fully and be aware of your surroundings & what is happening around you.

As we pointed out in our Festive Exuberance Rape Crimes blog post from a couple of years ago…

“It’s not just females who are in danger but males as well. According to recent statistics, 9 out of 10 people who have suffered rape were drunk or had taken drugs and an incredible 84% of those attacked knew their attacker!”

Carrying a personal alarm system on yourself, ensures that if you need assistance its powerful 110+dB will not only alert other members of the public of your situation but will also give you those vital seconds you need to make your escape.

Even though many neighbours love this time of year and warmly welcome the ‘antics of children’ as they chap doors in the neighbourhood and shout ‘trick or treat‘ there are still a few precautions that are best followed in order to make it a properly safe halloween night.

Here at Crime Prevention Products we know that everyone loves this time of year, however we also understand that there are many dangers lurking in every city, town or village, just waiting to take advantage on any unprepared ‘Ghosts and Ghouls‘.

So, whilst you are out and about, it’s best to remember :

• Never leave your own neighbourhood unless you’re with an adult or a responsible person.
• Always stay on the pavements and make sure streets which you visit are well lit.
• Never enter a strangers house.
• Never just run across a main road, always look left, right and left again.
• If you’re crossing a busy road always remove your face mask. Face masks can restrict your view and you might not see that oncoming vehicle.

By NOT following these simple but effective Halloween Safety Rules you may lose more than your sweets, treats and toffee apples. Stay safe!

Alongside those new togs there is one accessory that always turns heads and that’s a new designer handbag (which may have cost a small fortune). Although it’s not just those with a keen fashion sense who will have noticed your new bag – opportunistic thieves may also show their appreciation and will be keen to see it close-up as well as the contents of you’re handbag.

No one likes to place their new (or old) handbag on a wet, dirty floor where it may be accidentally kicked under a table and even out of sight. That’s why we at Crime Prevention Products can supply you with the perfect handbag accessory the Handbag Keep-Safe Hook With Compact Mirror… This simple device will keep any handbag well out the way of dirty floors and more importantly in easy sight of its owner.

With the average contents of a handbag totalling around £350 – never mind the purchase price of the bag itself – it’s worth making sure you keep your handbag safe whilst looking good at the same time.

Facts Regarding Stalking in the UK:

• Over 1.2 million women and 900,000 men are stalked every year according to The British Crime Survey 2004.
• 8% of women and 6% of men are stalked every year.
• 19% of women and 12% of men have experienced stalking or harassment at some point in their lives.

(source)

In a recent study carried out by Napo (the probation officers union) found that victims of stalking were being failed by our legal system. The study which is the first of it’s kind shows that sentences handed down to stalkers have been far to lenient. In fact last year in Britain there were 120,000 cases of stalking in which 53,000 were reported as a crime, however only 2% of the offenders were given a custodial sentence and a further 10% had to do community service or handed a fine. (source)

Crime Prevention Products understand that everyone deserves the right to their freedom whether it’s walking to the shops or enjoying yourself on a night out. That’s why we supply a host of personal security devices such as Defence Sprays which can cover your attacker in a bright red UV dye not only giving you time to react and escape but also help the authorities identify the culprit even days later as the dye is very, very stubborn to remove.

In recent years there have been well documented cases where intruders have been seriously injured or killed as they attempted to burgle someone’s home. Tony Martin was jailed in 1999 for murdering one intruder and seriously injuring another after the two men tried to burgle his farmhouse. The ‘Tony Martin’ case deeply divided not only the legal establishment but the general public as well.

Then, just last week, police were called to a house where they arrested a homeowner who stabbed an alleged intruder to death during a scuffle. The arrested man claims he used reasonable force in self defence to protect himself and family from intruders. The law states that it ‘permits one person to kill another in self defence only, if the person defending him or herself uses no more than reasonable force‘.

You can read more about the Crown Prosecution Service views on using Self Defence against a home intruder on their website : here!

Here at Crime Prevention Products we stock a large array of affordable home security devices such wireless burglar alarms which are often enough to deter any opportunistic thieves from entering your home.

However, this can also be a very anxious time for both parents and students.

The National Union of Students (NUS) carried out a study in 2010 and found that one in seven female students had been the victim of serious sexual assault or serious physical violence whilst attending university or college. The report which interviewed over 2,000 women found that 43% of the female students interviewed said they thought they’d be blamed if they went to the police. (source, opens in new window)

We expect our educational establishments to be places where students can feel safe while studying and in most cases this has is proven to be the case. It’s when students go off campus and decide to walk home late at night that potentially is when most female student victims are assaulted.

Crime Prevention Products have a variety of personal alarms that can fit smartly with any students attire without being too obvious or cramping their style.

One such alarm is the ILA Pebble Personal Alarm In Strawberry… This cool looking accessory is activated by pushing the centre button and pulling the key chain away. The Pebble Personal Alarm emits a powerful 130db giving its wearer time to make their escape or help alert passers-by that they need assistance.

Another personal alarm is the ILA Pedometer Alarm which is ideal for the sporty student. Perfect for jogging as it counts calories burnt and the distance you’ve travelled plus it packs a mighty 130db punch.

Here at Crime Prevention Products we hope no student never needs to use their personal alarm. However, we also believe that students are better to be prepared than to have no protection at all.

Gap Year’s are prolonged breaks that students take time out from their studies or before they start college or university. Normally the requirements for a gapyear is a backpack full of vitals and plane tickets to head off to some exotic sun-kissed shore or trekking through villages that lay high in the foothills of various mountain ranges.

Even though thousands of students head off AND return safely without any serious incidents hindering their travels, it is always advisable to be prepared for any security threats that might happen while they are on their travels.

Whilst heading off on their travels there are various personal security devices for travelers and backpackers which are available at Crime Prevention Products for the seasoned and not so seasoned traveller. However, there are also safety tips which everyone should adopt as they trek through a foreign country.

Here are just a few safety tips for gap year students:

• Always try and travel / walk with a companion, never walk in the dark in places that you are unsure about.
• Refrain from wearing named brand clothing and expensive jewellery.
• Be careful whilst using bank machines (ATM’s) and never ‘flash the cash’.
• Keep your passport, cash and travel documents in a locked safe or somewhere only you will find them.
• Research the country/countries that you’re about to visit. Find out if there are any news on major or dangerous conflicts, uprisings or even civil unrest.

This year if you and your friends are considering visiting a distant country, try and remember that each country has it’s own set of laws, health risks and customs. Being prepared on keeping safe during a gap year and planning ahead will ensure students enjoy this full and rewarding experience.