With over seven million people in London, there is plenty of scope for meeting people and making new friends. This section outlines how you can date in safety.

Meeting people

You can enjoy meeting new people, but make sure you keep in mind these tips when meeting someone for the first time.

• Don’t give out contact details when replying to or posting a personal ad in a newspaper or on a website.
• Make sure your first few meetings take place in a public place.
• Let someone know where you are going, who you will be with and when you plan to come back. Arrange for them to give you a call at a certain time to make sure you are safe.
• Do not go home with your strangers the first time you meet them and don’t ask them back to your house until you know you can trust them.
• Take a personal alarm with you.
• If you feel uncomfortable at any point, make a polite exit without leaving your personal details.
• Plan your journey home before you go out, so you are not put in a position where you need to accept a lift.

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If something does happen

• Draw attention to the situation and get other people to help you.
• When you get to a safe place, inform the police.
• See our advice on reporting a crime.

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More information