Police tell drinkers ‘wear nice pants’
Police have warned women intent on “getting ratted” to make sure they have waxed and are “wearing nice pants” in case they collapse.
The advice is contained in a free magazine launched by Suffolk Police which officers say is aimed at keeping women safe when they go out drinking and clubbing.
Safe! magazine also contains a picture of a girl in a mini skirt with the caption “if you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it” and it warns that alcohol can leave women looking like “wrinkly old prunes”. There are also mock horoscopes promising disasters of various kinds as a result of drinking binges.
Officers said they were adopting an editorial style which they hoped would appeal to women in their late teens.
A group which campaigns on women’s safety issues applauded the police’s efforts but said the style of the magazine was “bizarre”. Suffolk police explain that the publication forms part of their ‘Nightsafe” crime awareness and reduction campaign and it focuses on the three main ‘nightsafe' messages:
- Don’t overdo it
- Friends stick together
- Get home safe
“There have been a number of attacks on women who have been drinking and there is a serious safety message to get across,” a police spokesman said.
“We’ve written this in a gossipy, tongue-in-cheek style in the hopethat young women will pick it up and read it and take notice.”
“For those of you intent on getting ratted this weekend, think,” says the article. “If you fall over or pass out, remember your skirt or dress may ride up.
“You could show off more than you intended - for all our sakes, please make sure you’re wearing nice pantsand that you’ve recently had a wax. “Better still, eat before you go out, think about how much you’re drinking, pace yourself and drink plenty of water in between bevvies or better still, don’t get in this sorry state - it’s not nice.”
A spokeswoman for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust said: “The language is bizarre. I’ve never seen anything like it before from the police. But they have a point. It’s no good simply telling young women not to drink. You have to get their attention. You have to applaud the police for trying.”