Humberside Police say that, while ‘most people arrive home safely, unfortunately, for some families, it is the start of a living nightmare’
Humberside Police are urging festive revellers in the region to “pause and think about their actions” as Mad Friday begins the peak of the Christmas season. The force says that, while “most people arrive home safely, unfortunately, for some families, it is the start of a living nightmare”.
Though Christmas and New Year is a time of celebration, sadly there are occasions when families are forced to endure the heartbreak of a knock on the door from officers to be told their loved one has been badly injured, or even killed, because of an attack – potentially just one punch.
Police in the area are supporting the Home Office’s Winter Of Action initiative with officers out on patrol across busy hotspots. There will be “an increased presence of officers” who will work closely with pubs, clubs and bars over the Christmas and New Year period to help reduce crime.
The force says they are there to “reassure, to prevent harm, and to step in where needed”. Major Crime Team Superintendent Al Curtis, said: “Naturally, more so at this time of year, we see an increase in members of our community, heading to pubs, bars, and restaurants to celebrate the festivities.
“Whilst most people arrive home safely, unfortunately, for some families, it is the start of a living nightmare when they receive the heart-breaking news that their loved one has sustained life changing or fatal injuries from a single punch.
“Alcohol naturally impairs our ability to make rational decisions and in recent years, we’ve dealt with several incidents where people have ended up in an altercation which has then had detrimental consequences. We want our force area to be a safe place where members of the public can go out and enjoy the Christmas break and get home safely.
“If you’re heading out, whether that is just to enjoy a drink, or the festivities, my message to you if you find yourself in a confrontational situation is to stop, think, and just walk away. Remember one punch can kill. It will save lives.”
Earlier this month, we joined Humberside Police on a high-visibility patrol as they worked to help tackle other crimes in the area that can be problematic over the festive season. Chief Inspector Alasdair Booth, force lead for retail crime, said: “Christmas is a time for giving, but unfortunately, it can also be a time when criminals take advantage. With homes filled with gifts and shopping areas busier than ever, the risk of theft and burglary increases.
“The impact of retail crime should not be underestimated, and this isn’t just financial. Unfortunately, those facing the perpetrators of retail crime are shop workers. This often comes with verbal abuse, intimidation, and in some cases physical threats, which is completely unacceptable.
“No one should feel unsafe or threatened at work, and we will not tolerate this behaviour. Business owners face financial losses, staff experience stress and fear, and customers ultimately pay the price when retailers are forced to increase costs to cover losses.
“We take all reports of shop theft seriously and assess cases individually. We do not work to a monetary value threshold for prosecuting offenders. Our focus is on identifying repeat offenders quickly and preventing further harm.”