Security
Staying safe at home
It’s always sensible to prepare for any household emergency - from a fire or a flood, to the consequences of terrorism.
Sensible precautions
Be prepared for any major disruption, including severe weather and floods. In many types of emergency, you could lose access to power, water, telephones, and roads.
Keep a store of:
- batteries
- a battery-powered torch
- a battery-powered or wind-up radio
- ready-to-eat or tinned food
- bottles of water
- blankets or duvets
Keep phone numbers handy
Have phone numbers of your local police, council, utility companies and family members handy in one place.
Know the location of stopcocks and fuses
Make sure you know where the main switches for electricity, water and gas are located in your home, as you may need to turn them off in an emergency.
Know your environment
Know who and what you expect to see each day within your neighbourhood, and report anything suspicious.
Ask yourself:
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is there anything out of place?
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is there anything there that is not usually there?
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is my home as I left it?
Protect yourself from identity fraud
Criminals, including terrorists, use stolen identities to conceal themselves. Keep all identification documents such as bills, bank statements, passports and driving licenses, safely hidden away.
Terrorists often finance their operations illegally. Take care of your credit cards and other financial records, and do not donate or contribute to a collection if you are unsure where the money is going.
