By Craig Smith

A BOOKLET aimed at improving women’s safety has been hailed a success in its first few weeks in circulation.

Plan For Your Personal Safety has appeared in pubs and clubs across Fife over the festive period in a bid to persuade women to plan ahead before a night out.

It has also been distributed to major employers in the area, and safety talks by police community safety officers will be offered to employees.

Such has been the demand for the A5 booklet that Fife Community Safety Partnership cleared its original print run of 10,000 in the campaign’s first week. Ten thousand more have been rushed out to spread the message in time for tonight’s festivities.

Community safety officer PC Colin Steer, who co-wrote the booklet, hopes the advice will help women in all areas of their lives beyond the festive season.

“I’d like to think we could deliver this for at least another year, and if things perhaps change with regards to some of the information then we can always revise the booklet and send more out,” he said.

In 2004/5 there were 126 recorded indecent assaults against women and 87 reported rapes in Fife, many of which stemmed from women being targeted because they were under the influence of alcohol.

Fife also still has Scotland’s only conviction for drug-assisted sexual assault.

Fife Community Safety Partnership decided to do all that it could to send a clear message to potential perpetrators they will be dealt with severely.

The booklet deals with issues from handbag safety and protecting belongings to women’s safety at home or at work, while walking or socialising.

It also covers topics such as alcohol awareness and bogus callers, and highlights the support services available to victims of rape, sexual assault or domestic abuse throughout Fife.

The main advice comes under the PLAN acronym and urges women to follow a simple four-step reminder:

PREPARE YOURSELF—know where you are going and how to get there and familiarise yourself with your surroundings.

LOOK CONFIDENT—be alert, walk tall, keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings.

AVOID RISK—tell someone where you are going and how long you expect to be. If plans change let someone know. Avoid dangerous shortcuts, and call a licensed taxi.

NEVER ASSUME—never assume it won’t happen to you and never assume people are what they seem.

Radio adverts, posters, special stickers for pubs and leaflets about avoiding spiked drinks have also been issued as part of the campaign.

Sheila Noble, from the Fife Domestic and Sexual Abuse Partnership, added that the booklet would help eliminate myths about assaults on women.

“We were concerned really about the focus being on ‘stranger danger’— we wanted to make that message broadened,” she said.

“Ninety percent of women who are raped are raped by men they know, so there’s much more danger from friends, partners or casual associates out there.”

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the booklet, or in hearing a talk on personal safety, should contact the Fife Community Safety Partnership on 01592 413751.