Street Watch

Risk Assessment

STREET WATCH: / Date of Assessment: 11 April 2009 / Reviewed On Date:5November 2010
Next Review Due: 5 November 2011
RISK ASSESSMENT / STREET PATROLS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
No. / Activity/Hazard / Who is at risk / Control Measures / Severity / Likelihood / Risk
Rating
1 / Hazard:
Confrontation and Personal injury. / Members / Street Watch members are required to apply common sense and to dynamically risk assess each engagement with a member of the public. At any indication or potential for hostility or confrontation, Street Watch members are advised to withdraw to a safe distance and phone 999.
Street Watch members may decide to appropriately engage with those who aredisplaying anti-social behaviour. Street Watch members must disengage where there is a likelihood or potential for confrontation.
Street Watch members are aware of their environment. This increased awareness and the fact that they walk in pairs wearing high visibility jackets reduces the potential for risk.
The likelihood for confrontation in open spaces is generally high where members of the public are taken by surprise and act on impulse or instinct. By approaching people in a controlled and appropriate manner, the potential for confrontation is greatly reduced.
All Street Watch members must book patrols on the website before engaging in patrols.
At least one member of the Street Watch pair must carry a mobile phone. / Moderate
Any injury could be of varying degree. / Low
By following the guidance and through avoiding confrontation the likelihood of problems is low. / Low
2 / Hazard:
Tripping and falls. / Members / A trip or fall whilst patrolling Street Watch patrols could lead to personal injury.
Street Watch members should wear appropriate footwear which is suitable to the road surface, path surface and weather conditions.
During the hours of darkness, a torch should be used to assist in navigation. / Moderate
Any injury through tripping of falling could be of varying degrees. / Low
The chance of injury whilst walking is low. / Low
3 / Hazard:
Visibility and road safety. / Members / Street Watch members are advised not to wear their jackets on their way to or on their way back from patrols, unless they engage in a dynamic risk assessment to make a decision that given any weather, lighting and traffic conditions, it would be safer to wear the jacket than be concerned about possible confrontation.
Street Watch members should consider wearing an alternative florescent jacket to or from patrols.
Street Watch members should consider equipping themselves with torches / armbands / flash lights. / During daylight hours Low
During hours of darkness moderate / During daylight hours Low
During hours of darkness moderate.
However, low if basic control measures are followed. / Low
Medium / Low
4 / Hazard:
Lack of route familiarity and planning / Street Watch members are advised to walk on the pavement in areas of Street lighting. In more rural environments, members should make a dynamic risk assessment when walking on roads without paths and with no street lighting.
Street Watch members should be familiar with their locations and know the name of the street they are in at any time. There are no restrictions on what routes to walk as this is a matter of choice. Some members may wish to plan their own pre-determined routes.
Members must not patrol outside their Street Watch area. / Low
There is little risk from getting lost. / Low
Through common sense, members should not get lost and ensure that they are familiar with their location / Low
5 / Hazard:
Picking up litter / sharps or objects
Risk of personal injury or infection. / There is no expectation for Street Watch members to engage in this type of activity. This is a matter of personal choice.
Sharps such as needles and glass must not be picked up. These must be reported to the District Council for proper handling and disposal.
Medical help should be immediately sought if injury is caused by handling objects. / Any injury from this activity can range from low to high. / Low
Any injury of significance is likely to be low. Reasonable precautions will reduce risk significantly / Low
6 / Hazard:
Handling substances. / Drugs and packets that might contain drugs or drugs residue and drugs paraphernalia must not be handled without appropriate dynamic risk assessment. Appropriate gloves and protective clothing should be worn before doing so. Drugs and be transmitted into blood system through skin.
Some substances can also cause harm if entered into the eye / inhaled or swallowed.
Medical help should be immediately sought if adverse contact is made with dangerous substances.
The safest option is to inform that District Council to attend to handle and dispose of such items. / Low to Moderate / Low
Street Watch members should not be in contact with hazardous substances. / Low
7 / Hazard:
Use of vehicles (Other than travelling to and from meetings) / Vehicles must not be used on patrols or to travel to or from patrols. Members may naturally use a vehicle to travel to or from group meetings and social activities. Jackets must not be worn whilst driving or riding vehicles. Vehicles include pedal bikes as well as any motorised vehicle. / High / Low
Under no circumstances must vehicles be used. / Moderate
8 / Hazard:
Weather conditions / Street Watch members should make dynamic risk assessments regarding patrolling in different weather conditions.
Street Watch members are advised not to patrol in inclement weather, particularly if that may impact on personal visibility. Street Watch members should wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for the weather conditions and road surface. / low / low / low
9 / Hazard:
Climbing Obstacles / Street Watch members, particularly in rural locations, may need to climb over small obstacles to access public areas. A dynamic risk assessment should be conducted. Street Watch members must not climb ladders or place themselves in danger of falling from a position of height. / low / low / low
10 / Hazard:
Approaching dogs and other animals. / Street Watch members must be careful whilst in the presence of animals or if handling animals. A dynamic risk assessment should be conducted before approaching animals. Issues such as dog bite could cause personal injury. Street Watch members are advised not to approach animals that are wild or not under proper control of their owners.
The dog warden should be contacted for any dogs running loose or the police called for any animals on the highway. / low / low / low
11 / Hazard:
Crossing roads. / Risk of injury and road collisions. Street Watch members must adhear to road safety manuals including the Green Cross Code.
Street Watch members must not engage in road traffic management unless there may be an immediate need and members are acting as good citizens (scene of a road traffic accident). If such a case was to arise, a dynamic risk assessment should be conducted. / Moderate / low / low
12 / Hazard:
General Patrol
. / There are many scenarios that a documented risk assessment cannot reasonably cover. Street Watch members walk the streets just like any other member of the public and can come across any scenario just like any other member of the public.
Just like any other citizen, Street Watch members should think ‘safety first’ before engaging in any situation.
Dynamic risk assessments should be applied taking into account possible hazards. / Moderate / low / low

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