Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton issues festive safety advice
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton has issued advice to members of the public on how to keep safe over the festive period:
The festive season is a special time for many of us and I would like to take this opportunity to provide you all with some advice and guidance which will help keep your home, your belongings and most importantly, yourself, safe.
Over the next few weeks many of you will be heading into the High Streets and city centres across Scotland to do some Christmas shopping or to enjoy a night out with friends.
Our priority is to keep you all safe and we will be deploying high-visibility patrols to engage with the public, deter crime and respond to any incidents that may arise.
We are there to help you so please come and speak to us if you have any concerns or need assistance.
City centres can be incredibly busy at this time of year, and if you’re heading into town for a night out, please think ahead about how you’re getting to and from wherever you are going and plan your journey in advance.
Look out for one another, travel together if you can, and please drink responsibly. Before you head out it’s always a good idea to make sure you have everything you may need, including a fully charged phone and cash or bank cards, as well as ID.
Christmas is a time when many of us are out and about visiting family and friends or going on trips away. If you’re leaving your home unoccupied, please make sure doors and windows are locked and that any valuables, including Christmas gifts, are stored safely out of sight.
If you’re out on the roads, please remember that you will be travelling in the height of winter and to drive safely for these conditions. Check that your vehicle is roadworthy and equipped to deal with potentially longer journeys.
With so many festive nights out and social events coming up, please don’t risk getting behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking, and even be mindful of driving the next day, because you may still have alcohol in your system.
Our Road Policing Officers will be out on patrol monitoring for drink drivers, so please be sensible, and don’t take any risks.
All of our crime prevention and personal safety advice is available on our website https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/
Our officers are here for you 24/7, no matter if it’s Christmas, New Year or any other occasion. You can get in touch with us anytime by calling 101, or 999 if it’s an emergency.
Thank you and Merry Christmas.
