KEEPING SAFE AT CHRISTMAS

Newry, Mourne and Down Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) have teamed up with the PSNI’s Crime Prevention Unit, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust have provided some safety information on keeping yourself and your home safe during the Festive Season.

Before going out for the evening make sure you have a designated driver or lift organised.  If people are going out in a group it is important to remember that those who go out together come home together.

Alcohol plays a major part in the festive celebrations and although people take measures to avoid drink driving on the night out people need to be aware of the risks of driving the next morning.   According to the Department of Transport 18% of drink driving accidents happen the morning after between the hours of 4am and 12noon.  It takes 1 hour for 1 unit of alcohol to leave the body (that’s approximately 2 hours per pint of beer). The advice is ‘Don’t Speculate-Calculate’ if you have any doubts order a taxi or get a lift with a friend.

When you’re away from your home make sure it is secured and that windows and doors are locked. Install Dusk to Dawn Bulbs or timer switches for your lights. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving presents on display in your home or car and don’t keep large amounts of cash in your home.

To help prevent fire in the home ensure that sockets are not overloaded, candles are positioned safely and monitored and that coal fires are lit safely and well-guarded.

As part of the ‘Keep Safe at Christmas’ campaign members of the public can attend a safety fair public at the venues listed below:

Wednesday 2 December:       Hillyard House, Castlewellan (10am-12noon)

                                          Tescos Newcastle (2pm-4pm)

Thursday 3 December:          Bridge Centre, Killyleagh (10am-12noon)

Friday 4 December:              Saintfield Christmas Fair (6.30pm-9pm)

Thursday 10 December:        War Memorial Hall, Crossgar (6pm-9pm)

Councillor Mickey Larkin, PCSP Chair stated that, “Christmas is a joyful time of year. People socialise, they travel more and they are a little more indulgent. The PCSP want pepole to continue to enjoy festive activities but to stay safe in doing so and the experts on the Partnership have come together to provide you with some safe initiatives.”

If you would like any additional information on Safety at Christmas please contact the PCSP on 0300 013 2233 or visit www.pcsp.org