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Safety Guidance

We have put together a checklist of safety guidance to keep yourself and communities safe in light of the recent riots and unrest.

In plain text, these steps are:

• Stay informed – keep up to date with reliable news sources and local authorities for information on which areas to avoid. Stay connected with local organisations such as Bradford Hate Crime Alliance and the Race Equality Network. You can also email the Race Equality Network directly.
• Misinformation – always seek verification of anything you see online or which is circulating on social media and is not an official notification. Verification can be sought by contacting the Police through the community hub.
• Avoid high-risk areas – if you know of any planned protests or areas of unrest, steer clear of those locations for your safety.
• Avoid travelling alone – if you must go out, do so in groups. There is safety in numbers and having a friend can be crucial in case of emergencies. Stay in brightly lit areas and avoid wearing headphone in order to be vigilant. For example, stand to the back of platform edges and keep an eye out for your surroundings. Make sure someone knows where you are at all times.
• Emergency supplies – keep essential items on hand such as a fully charged phone, water and first aid supplies.
• Dress – for any Muslim women who wear the Hijab, consider tucking your Hijab into your clothes to prevent any Islamophobic attacks.
• Report suspicious activity – if you witness any suspicious or dangerous behaviour, report it immediately to the relevant staff of the Police.
• Neighbours – times like these can be isolating for some communities so please support your neighbours, check in on those that may be vulnerable and offer support where possible.
• Mobile phones – ensure you have access to a mobile phone that is charged, in case of an emergency.
• Communication – Racism and Islamophobia are serious hate crimes so reach out to your friends, family, employees, colleagues, volunteers and services users to offer support and provide a safe space for them to express their feelings and concerns about current affairs and how it has affected them.
• Mental health – those individuals and communities that experience racial unrest can significantly impact mental and emotional wellbeing. If you are experiencing feelings that are difficult to cope with, please visit Healthy Minds for a range of online self-help resources. You can also contact Sharing Voices or Roshni Ghar who offer culturally appropriate mental health support.
• Bradford Police have set up a virtual Community Hub. The purpose of the Hub is to collate information from our communities and provide twice-daily updates regarding what is happening and key messages to be passed out. You can pass information into the hub such as messages and posters spreading misinformation via Assistant Inspector Toby Newton-Day. This is to report tensions, engagement and potential emerging issues. This is not to report crime or anti-social behaviour – you can do this via the normal channels which are WYP Online, or calling 101 for non-emergencies or 999 if a crime is in action.