People in communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be finalising their plans ahead of New Year’s Eve, the time for seeing in a hopeful, prosperous and peaceful 2012.
Chief Inspector Steve Potter is the lead for Operations at Leicestershire Police, he said,
“By taking some simple steps you can ensure that your 2012 gets off to a good start and that your New Year’s Eve night is memorable for all the right reasons.
“The majority of crimes committed by or against people celebrating the occasion are fuelled by the excessive consumption of alcohol. Drink responsibly, stay with trusted friends and always have enough money reserved for a planned ride home with someone who has not been drinking.”
Police are issuing advice to the public to take some simple steps to plan ahead for their big New Year’s Eve night out:
- Have none for the road – simply don’t drink if you have to drive;
- Leave your car at home and travel with a designated driver;
- Book a taxi before you go out and don’t leave it to chance;
- Take the bus to your destination to remove the temptation to drive;
- Give your car keys to a friend for safe keeping, preferably a designated driver, when you’re out and you’ve decided to drink and therefore not to drive;
- Leave your car keys behind the bar – if you know the landlord in you local pub, remove your car key from your key ring and ask to leave it behind the bar.
Once out and about partying with friends and family, Leicestershire Police advises taking the following safety precautions:
- Sticking with friends and travelling home in a group;
- Checking to make sure your taxi is a licensed cab;
- Sitting in the back of the taxi;
- Informing the bus driver if you feel uncomfortable with behaviour on a bus
- Moderating your alcohol intake (click here for advice). Alcohol increases your chances of being a victim and a perpetrator of crime;
- Avoiding drug misuse;
- Avoiding drinking and driving – either have a designated driver, or use public transport to get home;
- Only take the cash and valuable you need for the night with you;
- Keep your valuables in a zipped pocket. Leave coats and bags in an attended cloakroom if you want to go on to the dance floor.
For more personal safety advice,
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The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership are requesting that people keep their eyes and ears open this winter.
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If you see someone who appears to be drunk leave a public house or club and then enter a vehicle to drive away, make a note of the registration plate and the direction of travel and call your local police on 101* or make a make a free and anonymous call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111**
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*Calls cost 15p for the entire duration of the call from mobile or landline phones
**Some mobile phone providers may charge for this call