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Fast Forward: Blue Lights
First you hear the sirens. Then you see the blue lights.
It all started out a bit of harmless fun, but now people are starting to throw things.
This isn’t what you signed up for. That ambulance is trying to get someone to hospital. That police car is trying to get to someone who’s in trouble. That fire engine is racing against the clock.
You don’t want to be part of this now.
Before things get out of hand. Stop. Fast forward the night in your head and give yourself the chance to make better choices.
Watch
This two-minute video explains what can happen when young people get involved in attacks against blue light services – ambulance, fire service and police – and how it stops people from receiving life-saving help.
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Fast Forward: Sharing Spaces
You’re sat in the park with your mates one night when someone suddenly decides to lob a glass bottle.
A minute later someone else throws a bottle and things start to get out of hand. Before you know it, the playpark is half wrecked and there’s nothing you can do about it now.
You’ve become that person your granny feels intimated by when she walks through the park. Or that person your mum gives off about when the wee ones can’t use the playground after school.
Before things get out of hand. Stop. Fast forward the night in your head and give yourself the chance to make better choices.
Watch
This two-minute video helps young people understand the consequences of antisocial behaviour in parks and open spaces, and how it can impact on the whole community.
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Fast Forward: Over the Fence
You’re sat on the sofa in the house – bored.
Someone sends you a message saying it's all kicking off down the street at the barrier.
It’s tempting like. What harm is there in just going for a nosey? You wouldn’t actually have to get involved or anything, right?
Now stop. Take a second to fast forward the rest of the night in your head.
Shouting. Throwing. Police vans. Maybe you throw a brick and it hits someone. Maybe it doesn’t, but you’ve got it in your hand and that’s enough for intent.
A criminal conviction now will affect your future job, travel and life opportunities.
Before things get out of hand. Stop. Fast forward the night in your head and give yourself the chance to make better choices.
Watch
This two-minute video helps young people understand the consequences of getting involved in violence at interface barriers within the city.
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I’ve been asked to take part in antisocial behaviour. What can I do?
- Tell someone. If you are the victim or are witness to violence, tell someone. It can be anyone you trust. Or if you are being coerced to take part in violence, tell a trusted parent, youth worker, teacher, coach, friend or neighbour.
- Deflect or offer another activity. ‘Nah I can’t be bothered – sure come over and play FIFA?’ ‘My mum will kill me if I go down there..’ ‘Sorry I’ve got football training tonight’ ‘My girlfriend’s coming over – I don’t want to bring her in to it.’
- Ignore the messages to become involved.
- Try not to respond to violence with violence. Anger will almost always make things worse.
- Be a friend. Help other friends who are being asked to take part by inviting them to participate in another activity.
- You may not be involved in the violence yourself, but don’t stand by. Watching, encouraging violence or doing nothing makes you part of the problem.
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My child is involved in attacks on blue light services, park vandalism or antisocial behaviour at the interface area. What can I do?
- Offer them a way out. ‘My mum won’t let me come’ ‘My dad says I have to stay in tonight’ ‘I’ve to take my sister to my granny’s’ Give your young person the option of choosing a different path
- Make sure you know where they are
- Try to offer another, positive use of time. Getting involved in local sports or youth groups can be a great way to divert energy while also building friendships and getting fitter
- Have conversations about how a criminal record will affect your life later down the line. Did you know that if you have a criminal record there are lots of jobs you won’t be able to work in? Or places you may not be able to travel to in the future such as the U.S. or Australia?
- Have conversations in a non-confrontational way about the impact of the violence on children, older people, the community as a whole.
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Helpful Links
Under 18 and need to chat? Call ChildLine for free on 0800 1111 or find out how to get in touch online. ChildLine are always there to listen and support you. From bullying to abuse, chatting through issues in school and issues at home, ChildLine will be there to listen. If you feel you’re being pressured to take part in antisocial behaviour, speak to ChildLine 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Feeling depressed, suicidal, or worried about someone who is? Call Lifeline, Northern Ireland’s crisis response helpline. You can remain completely anonymous if you wish. Call 0808 808 8000 or textphone 18001 0808 808 8000.
Advice from the PSNI on keeping safe:
- Advice for students (link opens in new window) – starting uni or college can be exciting, but make sure you know top tips for staying safe and finding your feet in a new place
- Ask for Angela (link opens in new window) – Anyone who is feeling unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that you need help, and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist you. This might be through reuniting you with a friend, seeing you to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or Police.
- Child abuse (link opens in new window) - The term ‘child abuse’ includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, including sexual exploitation, emotional abuse or abuse through neglect, of a person under the age of 18. There is no absolute criterion for judging what constitutes abuse, or significant harm. However, it may include the degree, extent, duration and frequency of that harm. Sometimes, a single traumatic event may constitute this, for example, a violent assault, sexual assault, suffocation or poisoning. More often abuse or significant harm is a series of events, both acute and long-standing, which interrupt, change or damage the child’s physical and/or psychological development. Some children also live in family and social circumstances where their health and development are neglected.
- Sextortion (link opens in new window) - Sextortion is a cyber enabled crime during which victims are lured into sharing intimate images or performing sexual acts in front of a webcam. Unbeknown to victims, their actions are recorded by criminals who then use the video footage in an attempt to blackmail individual. Offenders commonly target their victims through dating apps, social media or webcams. Webcam blackmail usually involves people being lured into taking off some or all of their clothes in front of their webcam, only to be told that you have been recorded and that the video will be posted online and/or shown to the victim's contacts unless a fee is paid - usually a substantial sum of money. Sextortion can have a devastating effect on the victim. However, there are steps you can take to prevent this type of crime happening to you
When should I call 999 for a medical emergency?
You should call 999 in the event that emergency medical assistance is required in a life-threatening situation following a serious accident, injury or illness. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Loss of consciousness
- Major blood loss
- Chest pains
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe burns and scalds
- Fitting or concussion
- Severe allergic reactions
- Choking
- Drowning
In the case that it is not a life-threatening emergency, and immediate medical attention is not required, consider other options before calling 999:
- Care for yourself or the patient at home, or see if family or friends are able to help
- Talk to your local pharmacist
- Visit or call your GP (or, if necessary, call the out of hours GP service)
- Visit your local Minor Injuries Unit
- Make your own way to A and E (you will not be treated any quicker by arriving in an ambulance).
For more information visit nias.hscni.net/calling-999 (link opens in new window)
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