Personal safety and being "Street Wise" tips to remember.

Below is some practical suggestions before contacting any member. It is our policy to inform members that due the current trend and situations relating to sexual abuse, criminal offences and an unsafe environment we have to live in, that everyone should be street wise and keep their personal safety as a priority when accepting or approaching any invitation from a stranger or someone they have not yet meet.

Meeting up
Always take a mobile phone with you, or borrow one when meeting for first time.
Make sure your phone battery is charged before going to meet someone.
Call someone, a relative or friend just before you meet or go inside a home.
Make sure you have the meeting place and time written down at home.
Take the photo of the person you are meeting, compare it with the person you meet, "IS IT" the same person.
If you get into a car, text the registration number to a friend if possible.
Never meet in a strange area if you feel unsafe.
Make sure you know where you are going and have a map.
We can be more at risk in a strange area as we may not know the area problems.
Meet in a busy public place first or where other people are around.
If you have any doubts about the person ask to see something of his or her I.D.
If someone else comes to meet you saying his a friend, as the person could not get there on time, say FIRM "NO".
If a person is too vague and does not give you clear answers to questions ask yourself WHY?
If a person is uneasy, cannot look you into the eye when talking, ask yourself WHY?
If a person is uneasy, cannot keep still and restless, keeps moving, ask yourself WHY?
If a person is not genuine they give off many signals, learn to read body language in dealing with people you meet.


Personal details and being "Street Wise"
Do not give all your private details to a stranger.
Keep your address and house keys out of sight at all times.
If you suddenly loose keys or items with a stranger, be VERY CAUTIOUS, did they pick them up?
People are waiting to prey on victims who are careless, BE STREET WISE.
Crimes are commited by "Male & Females", males should also be aware at all times.

Your belongings
Do not take too much money or credit cards unless you have to.
Keep all credit cards and money out of sight from strangers.
Keep an eye on all your belongings and bags at all times.
DO NOT let anyone look after your belongs, KEEP THEM WITH YOU.

Dress and manner
Do not dress in a provocative manner but dress modest.
Dress clean and smart, if casual, then be neat and tidy, as well as clean.
Do not use bad language or an abusive manner.
If you feel unsafe LEAVE immediately, if threatened, seek help immediately.
Report any abuse or misconduct of a member to the agency soon as you can.

Travel
If going by public transport go at a safe time and make sure you can get home.
If you go by car make sure you can park.
May appear obvious . . . but did you fill the car up with petrol? You will not believe how many forget!
Be aware of the London congestion charge and parking permits.
If you use a car make sure the area is safe to park, if you are not sure, ASK.

If not suited
Be polite even if your are not suited and simply be honest and inform them.
Thank them for the meeting and say you feel you would rather wait for better match etc.
If your not seeing a person again, make clear you do not want any more calls, as this could offend a the next person you meet.

Social drinks
Never accept drinks off a stranger if you have not seen them poured.
Keep your eye on drinks at all times.
Never leave a drink to use the WC or leave unattended.
If you do feel strange or ill seek help IMMEDIATELY, the drink might have been drugged

As with all the above COMMON SENSE is vital in everyday life but even more so when we come into contact with strangers who we really do not know, and even if we do, we still need to be aware of putting yourself at risk in a venerable situation. We hope these few tips will be of practical help for members to be "Street Wise". Below are a few examples why we say be "Street Wise".

Credit card debts and background history
Before making any commitment, ask and do not take for granted anything, yes ask about credit debts, any offences or police records, outstanding fines pending or court lawsuits, persons going though divorce and not legally free could find themselves in the middle of a divorce case as the other ex partner could try to get compensation accusing you of stopping of even breaking up the marriage. Caution should be taken when dating people who are only separated and not legally free. Although some are quit happy to do this, we must stress those doing this leave themselves open for future problems. If you really decide you want this person, then the best thing to do is get their legal situation sorted out first, then you can do all things with peace of mind. If they say their situation is legal, ASK to see the legal papers and documents. If their appears to be some hesitation to provide them, INSIST, and do not go further in the relationship until you do see them. Don’t be fooled. If they say they are devorced and free ask to "degree absolute" document from court. If they have children, ask to see what arrangement the court has made for them and visiting rights from the other ex partner.

Why you need to be street wise.

Some people unfortunately are dishonest and even though we may ask for an I.D and confirmation details, sad to say some will try to abuse contact agencies in trying to meet partners with a bad motive. In this regard we do suggest that all members should be street wise and use good judgement when meeting or contacting anyone and most of all do not give all your personal details out on a first meeting unless very confident.

If a person is vague and tends to avoid answering questions even after some time, as to work, what they do, where they live even after several meetings, or if you cannot call them even by mobile phone and they only want to call you, then is it, that they already have commitment with someone else? This has happened and the secrecy of some people has latter been found that they are in fact married or living with a partner or have someone else. We advise all members to be cautious, while not wanting to give all their details out at first, to still be aware of those who maybe come in and try using our advice to hide behind, as they could be living a double life. From experience we have to make members aware of this. So if in doubt, Call us to check the details for you.

Here is an example of an incident where a lady lost all her things and her travel bags. If you travel and want to put your bags in storage, at a location such as an airport, train, coach or bus station. Be careful of helpful people who offer help, only to find that they switch your keys when handing them back to you. One such lady could not reach the locker at the train station where you can get a key and pay for a locker to save you carrying your bags all day, A man quickly came up and said, "Let me help you with that" he took her keys out of her hand and undid the locker and put the bags inside, he then gave her they keys and said, "No problem" and then walked off, only after a few minutes did the lady realise he had switched keys. By the time she had run back to check the man had gone back to the locker and taken her things, leaving an empty locker. So the lesson is being careful at all times and NEVER TRUST ANYONE, until you really know them . Never let anyone have access to your documents, keys credit cards, even when paying for your own bills, do not hand your card to anyone except the person concerned, if someone offers to take your card to the cash deck for you while your sitting at a table after a meal for example, insist you will do it. It only takes a few seconds to copy your details, so hang onto your signed receipts.

It was reported at one agency where a male told a female that he worked nights and also weekends away as had to travel abroad on special jobs. He also said he was having major work carried out on his home and was unsafe to visit him, as he removed the stairs while undertaking the building work. He also told the female that he had a very high profile job and security bound him not to tell anyone of the work he was doing. This was supposed to be for the females protection etc. It later turned out that the man was married with 3 children and of course was with his family in the evenings and at weekends. Investigation later caught this male coming out of his home with his wife and children on film. The man was exposed and action taken against him for fraud.

A report from another agency was of a woman was also exposed as later found to be working with a team of males who used the woman to get close to an innocent man later obtaining copies of keys to the man home, access to his legal papers such passports and driving licence, and many other papers, including his bank statements. The woman was working her way in to the mans life to marry him, after 6 months according to UK law 50% of his property and goods was hers, she did marry him, she then filed for divorce 6 months later. Only after long investigation was it later established the man was set up costing him his home and loss of money. Legally it was extremely difficult to prove, but this illustrates the need to be cautious and not rush into things at all times, think and ask question if you have any doubts, and even if you have no dubts, still question things. Russian woman brides and esatern Europe woman offered over the internet were found to be part of this scam.

Again we simple inform members to be street wise. This is why we at Sierra Introductions ask for an I.D and photo for or records and we call members to check details. If a person is divorced we ask members to request to see the “Degree Absolute” of the member as proof they are in fact legally free if they want to start a relationship. Genuine members would not be offended if you ask to see this, and all members are informed we recommend this for all members own protection. In honesty having your photo on our agency website is a protection as if a person was decepetive other people would see this and inform us. (Your personal contact infomation is kept confidential and not shown online to the public).