Violent Crime, abduction and kidnapping and other forms of personal attack are still comparatively rare and account for a small percentage of recorded crime. Still fewer such incidents take place against children. But they do happen and it is only right to take precautions to ensure you and your children are safe.
For example over the past few years there has been an increase in the number of child abductions from 196 in 1991 to 921in 2003/04. Although this is a worrying increase the risk of this happening to your child is extremely small if you consider there are over 5 and a half million recorded crimes each year. Statistically, the risks to children from a stranger deliberately harming them are very low. However, it is still a good idea to teach your children some safety rules.
Tell your child not to talk to anyone they don't know well when they are out. They should never go anywhere, with anyone, without first telling you or the adult who is in charge of them. They should also tell you where they are going and what time they will be back. They should tell you if someone approaches them. Young children need to be assured that nothing bad will happen if they tell you about anyone who does approach them or tries to talk to them.
You should teach your children what to do if they ever get lost or separated. Tell them to find a police officer (or a lifeguard if they are on the beach), someone working in a shop (the best people to go to are those working on the till or checkout-point), or someone who has young children with them. Tell them not to wander too far from where they last saw you.
If you are out with your children keep your child close to you. Always hold hands with your child, especially on busy streets and roads. If you can't, because you are carrying shopping or pushing a pram, teach them to hold on to the shopping bag or to the handle of the pram. If you have more than two young children, use reins.
If you have a baby in a pram or buggy, don't leave it parked while you shop. Watching through a window will not be enough if someone decides to take or harm your baby. If a shop won't let you in either go to a different shop that will or, failing this, take the child out of the pram.
When you first enter a shop or any other busy place, show your child where the meeting point is if you get separated.
Don't leave small children in unsupervised play areas in shops, shopping centres or pubs. Never ask strangers to 'keep an eye' on your children, even for a minute while you go to the toilet or queue for a cup of coffee.
Make sure you have taught your children their address and telephone number so that they can give it to the police or someone in authority who can bring your child back to you.
If you have lost your child try to keep calm. Go to the meeting point if you have arranged one. If your child is not there go to the nearest till or checkout-point. If you are in a shopping centre alert the shopping centre security staff or management office. Give them a description of your child. Listen carefully to any public address announcements. Return to your meeting point. Contact your nearest police station.
If you are in the street ask at the checkouts of the nearest shops and give them a description of your child. Contact the nearest police station.
If your child is old enough to play out unsupervised tell them to stay in groups and not to go off on their own.
Remind your child that it is dangerous to play near car parks, ponds, in empty buildings, on farms, on rubbish dumps and scrap yards and on building sites. They should not use dark alleyways or unlit routes, especially near woods and parks.
If you have a teenage son or daughter who is going out for the evening, check their transport arrangements. If necessary take them and bring them back. If this is not possible or you do not have a car arrange a lift or a taxi. If they are out and they need a taxi make sure they know to ask for the driver's name and check this with the driver when he or she arrives. Ensure you know when they are expected to return, even though this may not go down well.
Remind you children that mobiles and bikes are items that other people may want to steal and to keep them secure.
Following these safety rules will help to keep your children safe