Stay safe on your date

It will have escaped no one’s attention that it is Valentine’s Day today. I can barely get to my desk due to all the bouquets of flowers, chocolates and teddies.
DI Ash Wilson pictured at Worksop Police Station  (w120924-8b)DI Ash Wilson pictured at Worksop Police Station  (w120924-8b)
DI Ash Wilson pictured at Worksop Police Station (w120924-8b)

It means that romance will be in the air tonight and over the weekend, and as a result Worksop’s restaurants and bars will be full of doting couples.

But how well do you know your date? This week, as your own personal suit-wearing Cupid, I’d like to offer some tips for safer dating. If you are meeting someone new, whether in person or online, take note of the following advice:

BE MYSTERIOUS. Don’t reveal too much personal information about yourself and don’t tell your new date where you live. Under no circumstances reveal financial information and be wary of requests for money.

BE PATIENT. If you meet someone new on a night out, why not wait to take it further? Don’t go home with them or invite them back to yours. If you do decide to do this, make sure you tell your friends who you are with and where you are going. On a night out, never ditch a friend for a new squeeze.

BE SENSIBLE. Make sure the venues for your early dates are in public places, like restaurants or bars. Make your own way there and your own way home again. Always tell someone you trust about your plans.

BE PERCEPTIVE. If your gut is telling you no, listen to it. Be conscious of anyone who comes on too strong, too quickly. Watch out for those who seem to have troubled lives and beware of people who make inappropriate comments or appear to be aggressive or pushy.

BE DRINK AWARE. While you may choose a tipple to calm your nerves, too much alcohol can impair your judgement. Don’t drink excessively when meeting new people. It takes time to build that trust with someone, plus you will, no doubt, want to remember the date.

I don’t want to sound like an over-protective dad, but I want to make sure the only thing budding love birds suffer from this week is being struck by a cherub’s arrow. Have fun, but stay safe.

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