Thanet Community Safety Partnership (TCSP) is hosting a ‘Knowledge is Power’ interactive family event at Ramsgate Football Club on Friday 30 August.
The event is running between 10am and 3pm and is part of ongoing work to improve the safety of residents and provide a supportive, learning environment for families.
Partners including Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service and the RNL along with many others will promote the safety message ‘Knowledge is Power: Once is all it takes’.
The day aims to raise awareness of serious issues including tombstoning, driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, knife crime and staying safe around rail tracks. There will also be conversations around healthy relationships; what healthy relationships involve and how they compare to unhealthy ones.
The Knowledge is Power event will include free activities for people of all ages and workshops on specific safety issues will run throughout the day. Families and individuals are invited to attend one or more sessions. Places on the workshops are limited, so early booking is advised.
Knife Crime Awareness family workshop – delivered by national charity, the Ben Kinsella Trust. This workshop is open to everyone over the age of 13. Young people between the ages of 13 and 18 must be accompanied by a parent, carer or responsible adult.
Online Risk of Radicalisation – delivered by Kent County Council’s PREVENT Team
Healthy Relationships – delivered by Kent-based charity Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
The workshops can be booked by completing a short online form.
Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This event aims to equip young people and their families with the knowledge to stay safe in situations that, unfortunately, can sometimes prove dangerous, life changing or even fatal. The message ‘once is all it takes’ is hard-hitting, but one reckless or misjudged action really can have a devastating impact on young people and their families.
“We’re giving young people information, in a supportive setting, that can help them to stay safe in potentially dangerous situations. By doing so we hope to reduce the number of young people and their families that are affected by these serious issues each year.”
As the event is taking place in the Ramsgate Football Club grounds, on-site parking will not be available. Refreshments will be available to buy at the club.
Find out more about the Thanet Community Safety Partnership on the council’s website.
On average each year over 20,000 people are savaged by dogs, and who will require medical treatment, some have life changing injuries, and some are killed, especially children! This is because a child’s head is at the same level as dogs jaws. Last year as I was proceeding down Margate Road on my mobility scooter, passing very slowly a man with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier on a lead, the dog suddenly leapt up and hit me on the left shoulder! It was barking furiously, and its jaws were an inch from my face, and neck! The man managed to pull the dog off me, but who should I report this too as the dog was clearly dangerous?
As a former RSPCA Trustee I knew it was no use contacting them, so what about the police? I also know from previous experience, the police would refer me to the RSPCA why? What about the Thanet District Council, they have a Dog Warden, and Community Safety Team? I know from previous experience neither the police or TDC would take action, except only refer me to the RSPCA.
The RSPCA are a charity, and not a branch of the police, they are not publicly accountable. They have their own policies, and often ignore the Animal Welfare Act (I have evidence) which says how to take care of an animals “Needs”. It is a fact many people who own dogs haven’t a clue how to look after them, some of their dogs may go on and turn feral, and attack family members, or as in my case members of the public! I suggest the Thanet Community Safety Partnership run courses explaining what a dogs “needs” are, including daily mental and physical stimulation!
Here are the 5 basic “Needs” to keep a dog ” The Animal Welfare Act says Owners are obliged to care for their animals properly by providing:- a) Somewhere suitable to live. b) A proper diet. c) The ability to express normal behaviour. d) The need to be housed with, or apart from other animals. e) Protection from and treatment of illness and injury.
Dogs are not inanimate objects, they are living creatures, and who they live with are part of their “Pack” as they “Pack” animals. Confining a dog without any mental or physical exercise is illegal, and leaving it alone even for a few hours can cause “Separation Anxiety” and it will bark, cry, and whine, in distress! If you see this happen, there is no point reporting it to the RSPCA, as they have as much power to intervene as your local postman, even if the police refer you to them! In fact the RSPCA will not interfere, as they have a policy of not accepting any cases unless in an emergency and animal is likely to die, according to a letter I have from them!