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Police Step up Efforts to Cut Down Attacks

POLICE THIS WEEK stepped up their efforts to cut out the number of attacks on women by handing out pocket-sized alarms to pupils at Stranraer Academy.

All 58 senior girl students, who are due to leave the Academy this year, were on Tuesday given a keyring alarm which makes a loud, high-pitched screaming noise when activated.

And, according to Galloway Divisional Commander Superintendent Alex Dickson, if the alarms stop just one attack in the future then they will be deemed a success.

Although attacks are not commonplace in Galloway, the senior students were given a talk from Stranraer WPC Nadine McConnell on the benefits of carrying an alarm, especially if they are going away from home to study.

Mr Dickson said

"The idea is that if a woman is being hassled when she is out then she just needs to release this alarm and the perpetrator is not going to hang about.

"Those in senior school years may go away to college or university next year and they will be going into an area that they do not know and will be mixing with people who are unfamiliar to them. These alarms should hopefully give them some reassurance".