It’s now over two years since the Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered. She was simply going about her daily business serving her constituents in Birstall, West Yorkshire, when the perpetrator, Thomas Mair attacked her in the street; he shot Jo then stabbed her twice, she died at the scene.
Our MP’s do not have the same level of police protection as do cabinet members or senior politicians on the front benches, and as this tragic case displayed, they are very susceptible to anybody getting too close, meaning they could be in serious danger, in this case simply for having different political views and beliefs.
Now, following a Pilot Scheme, MP’s in Scotland are being offered ‘personal panic alarms’ in an attempt to mitigate any threats they may face whilst going about their business. This may seem unnecessary to some, as they are very public figures, and some would argue if a panic alarm could have saved Jo Cox, but the fact remains that in this day and age where it is much easier to get ‘up close and personal’ with those who serve our country or work in the public domain, there is also a heightened risk to personal security, and anything that can help protect that has got to be a good thing.
Want to know more about who needs a lone worker alarm? Then read on…
Who Works in the Public Domain?
We’ve already mentioned Members of Parliament as being very public figures, but who else would benefit from a Lone Worker Alarm, even though they are not actually ‘Lone Working’ in the truest sense.
Thanks mainly to the Media making everybody thirsty for celebrity culture and a seemingly endless supply of individuals happy to oblige this concept, it would appear that anybody can get a following these days. Indeed, the late Andy Warhol, a leading visionary in Pop Art, advertising and visual representation, suggested ‘in the future, everybody will be famous for fifteen minutes’, which all sounds great, but within that fame what if you attract the wrong kind of followers?
Even ‘A’ Listers such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, who all have an entourage of security guards and personal assistants have suffered the intrusion of over-zealous ‘fans’ getting too close for comfort; and anyway, what if you are A-Lister who just wants to go to the shop for a loaf of bread? Surely you can’t deploy all your security for that?
This is where a lone worker alarm would be a really useful tool. Giving the celebrities their own personal space, without compromising their safety.
At the push of a button, you can alert people to any situation where you feel threatened and your Escalation Contacts are immediately notified that you could be in danger.
Who Else Could Benefit from Lone Worker Alarms?
It’s not just MP’s and Celebrity ‘A’ Listers who could benefit.
What about if you work in the entertainment industry and you are putting shows on every night of the week practically, finishing late and having to make your own way home, no fancy car and driver for you, it’s the late bus and McDonalds if you are lucky!
By carrying a personal safety device, however, you are going a long way to diminishing those fears that are very real and justified about getting home on your own, late at night, especially in the winter months when it’s dark from 4 pm!
You don’t even have to be in the public eye in the traditional sense. You could be a blogger, or prevalent on Social Media such as Facebook or Instagram, anywhere where you build up a following. Which is what ultimately what you are looking for, but what you don’t want is any unwanted negative attention that could come your way if certain individuals don’t like what you have to say.
You could add to the list quite easily. Lecturers who speak about provocative subjects, local politicians who campaign on controversial issues, Pub Landlords who may have a disgruntled customer after an altercation of some kind, or scientists who work on debateable experiments; even pet sitters and dog walkers, the catalogue of people who would benefit from a personal panic alarm is endless.
What Price is safety?
It is reported that the Scottish Parliament has spent an estimated £14,000 on sophisticated Lone Worker Devices to protect their MSPs, a relative drop in the North Sea to be able to track a person’s movement or alert security if somebody doesn’t turn up when they should, and if this can save just one life, it is money well spent in anybody’s book.
But what price would you put on your own safety? If you are under the impression that a high-level personal panic device is out of your price range, then think again.
At First to Help You we have a variety of competitively priced, technologically advanced Lone Worker protection kits available and we are capable of meeting any demand, from large-scale organisations to single person solutions. So whether you are looking to purchase enough kits for a whole sales force who are regularly out in the field alone, the Dean of a University looking to protect your lecturers, or an actor just starting out on your first big break, we will be able to help you.
Even if you are surrounded by a huge team, there will be times when you have to work on your own which is quite normal, however, you should be able to do this without feeling vulnerable.
Contact Us
So, if you feel like you would benefit from a lone worker alarm, or you have a team of individuals who are often in susceptible situations, why take the risk? Our Lone Worker Devices are compact, effective, affordable to all and crucially meet all BS Standards as set out by the National Police Chiefs Council, (NPCC). You can contact us here or call us on 0333 772 9401, we have a team of highly skilled professionals waiting to hear from you and give you all the information you need.