Look after each other at Christmas

Police in Torbay are reminding people to take care of themselves, their friends and family while celebrating the festive period in its latest drive to tackle violent crime.
Officers will be carrying out enhanced patrols and a range of initiatives in the main towns and cities across the force area to help keep people safe.
Initiatives include the provision of evening and night-time economy marshals outside key licensed premises and Project NightEye, which targets those individuals behaving in a predatory sexual manner.
Police say: “We have delivered training to licensees, bar staff and street pastors about the Ask for Angela initiative, drink spiking and vulnerability.”
Devon & Cornwall Police is also this year supporting a new national winter Walk Away campaign, which aims to prevent deaths and serious injuries caused by someone being assaulted on a night out, often as a result of drunken behaviour, or split-second errors of judgement. Men aged 18 to 30 are most likely to be a victim or suspect of such behaviour and the initiative calls on friends and bystanders of potential offenders, as well as members of the public, to de-escalate situations when it’s safe to.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sheon Sturland said: “Very sadly, we know that there are times when situations do get out of hand and someone’s life can be irreversibly altered because of a single momentary lapse of control. Together with partner agencies across Devon, Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly we are committed to doing everything we can to keep people safe this Christmas and New Year, however we are asking people to take some personal responsibility, look after each other and not get into situations where behaviour can escalate into violence.
“I am encouraging those going out over the festive season to know when you have had enough to drink, plan how you are going to get home and look after each other. If you are out with friends and a situation becomes heated, step in and try to talk them down. If things escalate, ask others around you for help or call 999.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Unfortunately a minority of people will spoil Christmas festivities for themselves and others by drinking too much and being violent and unpleasant.
“I fully support the police in taking robust action against these individuals.”