Personal Security

• When travelling on foot, use busy routes and well-lit walkways - avoid isolated and darkened areas.

• Inform another trusted party of your intended destination, mode of transport and expected arrival time.

• Walk facing traffic so that vehicles cannot approach you from behind without you being aware of their presence.

• Do not display obvious valuables on your person - jewellery, handbags, etc unless completely necessary.

• Carry only the amount of cash that you require - credit cards, bank pass books should be kept securely out of sight and not in hip pockets.

• If you think you are being followed, go to the nearest place where there are people, even a private house and ring the Gardaí.

• If you are assaulted, help is available to you 24 hours a day. In any case involving sexual attack, you may feel dirty, but you should NOT wash, change your clothes or clean up the immediate vicinity until after you have talked to the Garda, you may unwittingly destroy essential evidence. Many crimes of rape, sexual attack are not reported and most rapists will continue their assaults until caught.

• Avoid situations which will necessitate you travelling alone at nighttime. There is safety in numbers. If however, you must travel on your own, plan your journey to limit your exposure to risk of assault, robbery or theft, by scheduling your journey to coincide with bus and train times etc. Use a taxi if no other transport is available.