One of the best safeguards you may take is the difficult step of sharing your experience and your need for safety with those people who surround you in your life. The following suggestions may be helpful:
- Sharing information with your children’s teachers and day care providers and providing clear instructions about who will be picking them up, etc., especially if there are custody and restraining orders in place.
- Neighbours who are aware of your needs can be alerted to call the police if the offender is seen around your home, or attempts to pick up your children following school hours.
- Alert neighbours not to hesitate to call the police if they hear a disturbance from your home at any time. You can wear a piercing whistle around your neck which neighbours can hear and respond to by calling the police. If you have a court order, ask them to call the police should the offender be seen around your home while you are absent. Show the neighbours a recent clear picture of the offender and explain who you think his target will be.
- A special code word can be chosen and shared with people you regularly contact. In the event of immediate danger, saying _________will be understood by them to mean call the police while the word will be overlooked by the offender.
This information is compliments of Northern Society for Domestic Peace
