Personal safety

Take care of yourself on the streets, be safe and secure

Generally Richmond is a safe place to live, work and visit. There are many things you can do to make yourself safer and more confident when out on the streets.

Plan

Before you start out for your journey or night out plan how you will get home. To get a taxi or licensed minicab to take you home, text the word ‘HOME’ to 60835.

Safety in numbers

Try to walk or travel with people you know. When you can, stick to routes where other people are and avoid short cuts in lonely places such as alleyways and parks. Try not to walk alone and keep to well-lit main roads.

Be assertive

When you are out and about look purposeful. Assertiveness in the way you behave reduces any perceived vulnerability.

Be aware

Using a mobile phone, wearing a hood and loud personal music all affect your awareness of the surroundings. If you regularly walk alone or go early morning jogging or cycling, try to vary your route and time.

Trust your instincts

They are there to warn you of potential risks, e.g. avoid shortcuts down alleys and across parks. Move away from suspicious people, have faith with your intuition and act on it.

Personal attack alarm

Consider carrying one as it provides reassurance and can deter or disorientate an attacker when activated, giving you time to get away.

In an emergency always dial 999

Further information

The Safety on the Street leaflet produced by the Metropolitan Police includes advice on staying safe on trains and buses, what to do when walking on your own and travelling in general.

To report any crime, contact your local police station [www.met.police.uk]. Your local police crime prevention officers can also provide advice if you want more information about your safety.

  • 999 in case of emergency
  • 101 - non-urgent concerns about day-to-day crime and disorder issues

More information and advice is available from:

  • The Suzy Lamplugh Trust - produces personal safety advice and sells personal safety equipment.
  • The London Centre for Personal Safety - works to prevent and protect from violence, reduce the fear and impact of violence, and campaign with like-minded organisations to tackle the causes and effects of violence

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of these issues, help is available. View information on the support for people who have been sexually assaulted or raped