Oldham's police commander is urging women when going out in Oldham to keep themselves safe, following a number of incidents in the area, where women have put themselves at risk.
Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball said: "There have been a number of incidents recently where women have drunk so much alcohol they wake up in places they don't know or asleep on the street, not knowing what has happened to them."
Police have joined with the Drugs and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) and Primary Care Trust (PCT) to issue credit card sized alcohol unit counters, which also feature information about emergency contraception. Taxi firms will be asked to distribute these cards to women as they travel into town at the weekend.
Caroline Ball continues: "There seems to be an increasing national trend for women to go out and drink until they can't control what happens to them, and sometimes can't remember what has happened to them in the morning.
"I issue a plea to all women going out drinking to pace your drinks, plan ahead and take a taxi you can trust. I find this issue extremely worrying as women are putting themselves at risk of rape, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy or worse."
Susan Johal, Alcohol Lead for Oldham DAAT said: "For women in particular, there is a need to guard against getting into risky habits on nights out. Obviously we want people to go out and have a good time, but we want them to stay safe whilst they are doing it.
"Simple things like eating before drinking, having an occasional water or soft drink, or planning your journey home can help keep you safe. "It's also important that you stay with your friends, don’t wonder off on your own and if you do make sure you tell someone where you are going. If you’re out with a group of friends look out for one another- don’t make you or your friends vulnerable. "
For information, the government’s recommended limits for safe drinking are 2-3 units per day for women and 3-4 units per day for men. Sticking to those limits gives us the best likelihood of a lifetime of risk free drinking."
