‘Walk away’ is the message, following three separate GBH incidents in St Peter’s Street in St Albans recently.
Hertfordshire Constabulary are supporting the national ‘We Walk Away Campaign’ during their #SaferTownCentres campaign which is running this summer.
St Albans Chief Inspector Ady Lysak said: “It only takes one punch to end a life or cause serious injuries. It also means prison for those inflicting the injury and has a big impact on families and the wider community, so more lives ruined.
“Sadly, we have had three one-punch GBHs in St Albans city centre over the past few weeks, with all victims receiving serious head injuries. It could have been a different story if the offenders had chosen to walk away. Please speak to your grown-up children and speak to your friends – be the bigger person and choose to walk away.”
He added: “Our aim is to save lives, prevent crime and disorder and ensure public safety.”
A man was punched outside the White Swan on Sunday, June 22. A man aged 23 from Hemel Hempstead was arrested on suspicion of GBH.
A man remains in a critical condition following one-punch assault at Waterend Barn on Wednesday, June 18. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH.
A man sustained a serious head injury near The Entertainer and Subway on Sunday, May 18.
The ‘We Walk Away’ campaign encourages self-control, support from friends, and for people to walk away from heated situations before other people become violent. It also calls on friends and bystanders of potential offenders, as well as members of the public, to de-escalate situations.
It offers tips to prevent violence on a night out:
- Keep an eye out for your mates. You know them best, but if they’re staring, shouting, or squaring up, it’s a definite sign to get them to walk away.
- A quick apology. We’re often not our best selves when we’re drunk. A quick apology on behalf of a friend can help clear up a misunderstanding before things kick off.
- Step in. If you feel safe, you can step in and make eye contact with your mate. It can make it easier to talk them down.
- Ask for help. If there are other mates out with you, get them to give you a hand. The more people that stand up and step in, the more likely things will calm down. If things are getting out of hand, call 999. In a non-emergency you can call 101.
Police Senior Licensing Officer Jo Tomkins, added: “Research shows that most incidents are caused by small triggers, something as basic as an error in judgement, a spilled drink or a rude comment. Offenders and victims are often men aged between 18 years and 30 years who did not know each other before the interaction. In most cases, the offender has no criminal background. They tend to happen in busy areas between 11pm and 4am.
“We want people to enjoy nights out that they remember for all the right reasons. A single punch can ruin lives, and this campaign is part of a range of efforts that we’re making to make nights out safe for everyone. We encourage licensed premises and other businesses in the night time economy to get involved and support the campaign.”
The campaign, We Will Walk Away developed by Leicestershire Police, has been funded by the Home Office and is being coordinated through the National Police Chiefs’ Council with support from the National Crime Co-ordination Committee.
0 Comments