Safety in the community

Everyone wants to feel safe in the community.

  • In an emergency or if you witness a crime, call Thames Valley Police on 999.
  • In a non emergency, or to speak to someone about a non urgent matter, call Thames Valley Police on 101 or 08458 505 505.
  • To report a crime anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Find information on Slough Borough Council website on:

Check the sections below for advice on child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, Female Genital Mutiliation (FGM).

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse.

Young people are tricked or forced into taking part in some form of sexual activity in return for something the young person needs or wants, including:

  • affection
  • money
  • drugs
  • accommodation. 

Check signs of CSE and how it happens.

You can report concerns to:

  • Slough’s One Front Door on 01753 875362
  • Thames Valley Police on 101
  • Crimestoppers online anonymously or on 0800 555 111.

If someone is in immediate danger, dial 999.

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

This can include but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

  • psychological
  • physical
  • sexual
  • financial
  • emotional.

Family members are: mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandparents. They can be directly-related, in-laws or step-family.

A recent change in UK law recognises stalking and coercive control as domestic abuse. Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour which seeks to take away the victim's liberty or freedom and to strip away their sense of self. Stalking and coercive control are liable to prosecution.

There are no cultural or religious reasons for anyone to suffer domestic abuse and help is available through a wide range of local and national groups.

If you feel threatened or in danger at any time call 999 immediately.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is 'Any procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’. Ref: World Health Organisation (WHO).

The main types of female genital mutilation include the following.

  • Type 1 – Clitoridectomy - Partial or total removal of the clitoris.
  • Type 2 – Excision - Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the inner labia, with or without excision of the outer labia (the labia are the ‘lips’ that surround the vagina).
  • Type 3 – Infibulation - Narrowing of the vaginal opening by creating a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner or outer labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.
  • Type 4 – Other - All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, eg, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterising (burning) the genital area.

The following are signs that a girl could be at risk of FGM.

  • A girl is born to a woman who has undergone FGM.
  • Mother has requested re-infibulation following childbirth.
  • A girl has an older sibling or cousin who has undergone FGM.
  • One or both parents or elder family members consider FGM integral to their cultural or religious identity.
  • The family indicate that there are strong levels of influence held by pro-FGM elders who are involved in bringing up female children.
  • A girl/family has limited level of integration within UK community.
  • A girl from a practising community is withdrawn from PSHE and/or Sex and Relationship Education or its equivalent may be at risk as a result of her parents wishing to keep her uninformed about her body, FGM and her rights.
  • If there are references to FGM in conversation, for example a girl may tell other children about it.
  • A girl may confide that she is to have a ‘special procedure’ or to attend a special occasion to ‘become a woman’.
  • A girl may request help from a teacher or another adult if she is aware or suspects that she is at immediate risk.
  • Parents state that they or a relative will take the child out of the country for a prolonged period and are evasive about why.
  • A girl is taken abroad to a country with high prevalence of FGM, especially during the summer holidays which is known as the ‘cutting season’.

If a girl (under 18) has disclosed she has undergone FGM or you have visually identified FGM, or you are concerned that she may be in immediate danger please contact the police by calling 999 and Slough Children’s First on 01753 875362.

For further support and advice check:

Sources: National FGM Centre.

Honour based abuse

Honour based abuse is any type of abuse committed against a person to protect or defend the perceived ‘honour’ of a family or community.

The abuse can be emotional, physical or sexual and can involve threats of violence, imprisonment, stalking, forced marriage, rape and even murder.

Honour based abuse is not about religion. It’s to do with beliefs and customs and an expectation that people should behave in a certain way or they will bring shame or dishonour on their family or the wider community.

Honour based abuse could be happening to someone you know. Some of the warning signs to look out for are:

  • seeming withdrawn or poorly performing at school or work.
  • having their movements controlled, regular family disputes or running away from home
  • signs of physical injury or self-harm.

If you think someone you know may be a victim of honour based abuse, call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

There are lots of ways the police can help and they will always take you seriously. For more information search #HiddenHarm.

You can also contact  Karma Nirvana for advice and support. Karma Nirvana is a British Human Rights Charity which supports all victims of so called honour based abuse and forced marriage. They can be reached via telephone on 0800 5999 247 or via email or post through their website.

Check Thames Valley Police YouTube video on 'What is honour based abuse'. Please note: if you access the video on YouTube the subtitles are auto generated. Some videos may not have subtitles and may autoplay.

Modern slavery, county lines and cuckooing

Modern slavery covers offences of:

  • human trafficking and slavery
  • servitude
  • forced or compulsory labour.

Modern slavery frequently involves multiple victims, offenders and places. It is often hidden and may take place alongside a wide range of abuses and other criminal offences.

Children (those aged under 18) are considered victims of trafficking, whether or not they have been coerced, deceived or paid to secure their compliance. They need only have been recruited, transported, received or harboured for the purpose of exploitation.

Organised crime groups include:

  • County Lines - gangs recruit and exploit children and vulnerable young people to courier drugs and cash. Typically, users ask for drugs via a mobile phone line used by the gang. Couriers travel between the gang’s urban base and the county or coastal locations on a regular basis to collect cash and deliver drugs. 
  • Cuckooing - drug dealers take over the property of a vulnerable person and use it as a place from which to run their drugs business.

Signs of modern slavery are often hidden. Check list of common signs on Slough Borough Council website.

If the person you are concerned about is:

  • in danger call 999 immediately

  • not in immediate danger but would like support contact the police on 101 or the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700.

Hate crime

Hate crime includes acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are - or who someone thinks they are.

Hate crime is any crime where a person is targeted because of their age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation.

In all serious incidents - where you fear for your own or another's safety – you should contact Thames Valley Police on 101. In an emergency dial 999.

If you feel unable to report an incident to the police directly, you can contact Victims First or call 0300 1234 148.

Safe Places scheme

The Safe Places scheme has been set up to help people who might feel vulnerable when they are out and about in Slough. 

Businesses who have signed up to the scheme will put a Safe Places sticker in their window. This shows it is a place where a vulnerable person can go in an emergency and get help to call the police, a family member, carer or support worker.

The businesses will not make lots of calls, but will provide somewhere safe to wait until help and support arrives. It may be as simple as offering someone a place to sit and a glass of water. An emergency could be when the person is unwell, scared or lost.

A vulnerable person includes someone who:

  • is elderly
  • has a physical disability, including visual or hearing impairment
  • has a learning disability
  • has a mental health condition
  • has an illness or condition.

The following places are now signed up to the Safe Places scheme in Slough.

  • Slough Borough Council buildings (Observatory House, The Curve, Britwell, Chalvey, Arbour Park)
  • Job Centre Plus, Yew Tree Road
  • Sue Ryder
  • Kingsway Church
  • Boots
  • Santander
  • Shopmobility
  • Tesco
  • Sainsburys
  • H Samuel
  • Starbucks
  • Natwest
  • HSBC bank
  • Scope
  • Everyone Active buildings (Langley Leisure Centre, Salt Hill Activity Centre, Slough Ice Rink, The Centre)
  • Stoke Poges Lane Mosque.

Report a crime or emergency

Within Slough Borough Council area, a crime or an emergency should be reported to Thames Valley Police on the following contact numbers:

  • In an emergency always call 999.
  • Call 101 to report a non-emergency crime or to give information to Thames Valley Police.
  • Call 0044 1865 841148 to contact Thames Valley Police from outside of the United Kingdom.
  • Report non-emergency crimes or incidents using Thames Valley Police’s non-emergency reporting form.

To report:

  • something suspicious or if you're unsure about someone's behaviour, call the anti-terrorist hotline number on 0800 789 321
  • a crime call Thames Valley Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You do not have to give your name, sign any kind of statement or appear in court.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired you can use:

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