Festive fun, safely done: Clare gardaí offer safety advice for Christmas nights out

As festive celebrations ramp up across the county and the Christmas party season moves into full swing, Clare gardaí are urging revelers to take precautions and put safety first on nights out.  

Clare gardaí have outlined eight key tips to help ensure that members of the public a safe and enjoyable night out over the holiday season.  

Crime prevention officer Sergeant Catriona Holohan is encouraging people to consider the following advice before they head out.

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Stay With People You Trust 

The first piece of advice is to stick with your friends.  

Staying close to people you know well and trust can significantly reduce the risk of being targeted by individuals who may have bad intentions or may try to take advantage of someone.  

If you decide to go home before your friends, gardaí recommend ordering a taxi from inside the venue and waiting indoors until it arrives.  

Plan Your Journey Home in Advance

For those living in rural areas or places where taxis or public transport may not be easily accessible, it’s important to consider transport home before heading out.   

When out with a group, try to organize a designated driver, someone who will refrain from drinking alcohol and commit to driving everyone home safely. If no designated driver is available, pre-arrange a lift with a reliable family member or friend.  

Tips for Taking a Taxi Home

If you’re getting a taxi, gardaí recommend, whenever possible, share a taxi with someone you trust.  

However if travelling alone they advise you take note of the taxi driver’s name and number and text these details to someone you trust via WhatsApp, Snapchat, or another messaging service and let them know once you are safely home.  

During the taxi ride, if you feel uncomfortable at any stage of the journey gardai advise to try and remain calm and ask the driver to pull over so you can exit safely.  

If you are unable to do this, text ‘999’ with your location and taxi details or make a silent ‘999’ call and if possible try to provide your location to the operator.  

Getting the bus or walking home

If getting the bus home, let someone trusted know when you are waiting for the bus, when you get on, and when you get off.  

Where possible it is advised to travel with someone you know for as long of the journey that you can.  

The same advice is being given when walking home to contact someone trusted and let them know you are on your way home.  

Gardai also recommend that people try and walk in public, well-lit areas and pay attention to their surroundings. When walking alone, it is advised to refrain from wearing headphones.   

Have emergency money 

Gardai recommends keeping some money separate to your main wallet or purse, such as inside a jacket or jean pocket.  

This is as if you lose your wallet or if it gets stolen, you will still have some money to get home by means such as a taxi if needed. 

Avoid taking drinks from a stranger 

When on a night out, it is safest to avoid accepting drinks from people you do not know, as well as never leaving your drink unattended. 

If someone you don't know offers to buy you a drink and you wish to accept, it is best to go to the bar with them. By doing this you can take the drink from the bar tender yourself and know exactly what is in it prior to drinking it. 

Avoid confrontation  

In cases on a night out and someone attempts to incite a fight with you or someone you are with, Clare gardai advise that the best thing you can do is walk away from the situation. 

If a friend is involved in a fight, rather then getting involved, it is advised to instead remove them from the situation and take them elsewhere. 

If you see someone behaving aggressively in the club or pub you are in, it is recommended to report them to the bouncer and move away from that area of the premises. 

Charge your phone before going out 

The final garda tip for a safe festive night out is to ensure that your phone is fully charged before heading out. 

Clare gardai have said that having a working phone means that if something goes wrong or you need to contact one of your friends, such as if you get separated from your group, you will be able to do so. 

It will also allow you to be able to book a taxi or call someone to collect you when the night is finished. 

They also advise having credit on your phone prior to going out to ensure that you will be able to call people if necessary.