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Safer Islington
Travel
safely this
Christmas
The council, police and TfL are working
together to make it safer for you to get
home. Un-booked minicabs picked up
in the street or outside pubs and clubs
are illegal, unregulated and uninsured,
and can also provide cover for serious
crimes including sexual violence and
robbery.
If you’re using a minicab over
Christmas, stay safe by:
Booking it – you can text CAB to
60835 to get two licensed local
minicab and one local black cab (taxi)
numbers sent directly to your phone
(texts are 35p each plus standard
message rate)
Playing it straight
There are good reasons to steer clear of
dodgy electrical goods this Christmas.
GHD hair straighteners were among
the most counterfeited products
advertised online last Christmas. Some
of the fakes were not safe, causing
serious burns and fires, and some even
melted.
Here are some tips from the
council’s trading standards
team on how to make sure that
any electrical goods you buy
are safe:
Buy from a reputable shop or online
retailer
Check the voltage – 230V, 50Hz
is the UK’s domestic voltage. Is the
product fitted with a UK plug or
charger?
Check the seller’s contact details –
make sure it’s a full address and not
just a PO Box number. Not all .co.uk
Checking it’s yours – make sure
the driver knows your name and
destination before you get in, and
check their photo ID
Sitting in the back – always sit in
the back seat and have your mobile
phone accessible in case there’s an
emergency.
Find more information about
minicab safety, plus a journey
planner, times of the first
and last tubes and night bus
maps at www.tfl.gov.uk
websites are based in the UK
Avoid second hand electrics – there’s
no guarantee, no warranty, and you
don’t know what condition it’s in
Use online review sites – see what
others have said about the company
you are buying from and the product
you are buying
Read the product guarantees, the
seller’s terms and conditions, returns
policy and privacy statement
Keep records of whatever you order.
For more information about
your consumer rights, call the
Citizens Advice consumer
helpline on 08454 04 05 06.
If you are concerned about the
goods an Islington business is offering,
contact 020 7527 3198, or email
trading.standards@islington.gov.uk
Safety
in the
kitchen this
Christmas
Did you know that around 60
per cent of accidental fires in
the home start in the kitchen?
Rhys Powell, London Fire
Brigade’s Borough Commander
for Islington, talks to
IslingtonLife about being safe
in the kitchen this Christmas…
“These may be simple tips but
this Christmas we’d like to remind
residents to:
never leave cooking unattended
turn off electrical appliances
when they are not being used
make sure your electrical items
and gas appliances are serviced
regularly.
“In addition, our local firefighters
can come to your home and give
you advice on how to prevent fires
and stay safe in your home.
“During the visit, firefighters will
not only offer advice on how to
prevent a fire, but if required they
will supply and fit smoke alarms.
We can even fit specialist smoke
alarms for the hard of hearing or
visually impaired and all of this is
free of charge.
“Our crews in Islington would
really like you to take advantage
of this service - we would much
rather come round and fit a smoke
alarm than come to your home
because of a fire.”
To book a free home fire
safety call us for free
on 0800 028 44 28,
or email us at
smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk
Please quote the reference ISL 04.
10