CHARITIES and the police are expected to be out in force on Monday week for an awareness day aimed at keeping people safe in public.

The StreetsAhead campaign will be marked with an awareness extravaganza in Victoria Square.

The event will tie in with National Personal Safety Day and aims to reduce the risk of people becoming a victim of violence or aggression when they are out on the streets.

Police will be joining forces with Bolton Council in a large marquee in the town centre which will host a number of stalls and events related to safety.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is the brainchild behind the national awareness event.

The charity was launched by estate agent Ms Lamplugh’s family after she went missing in Fulham in 1986.

Her body has never been found and she was presumed murdered in 1994.

The charity highlights risks people face and offers advice. Residents are encouraged to attend the event, which will include representatives from Every Action Has Consequences campaign.

This aims to educate people about the serious consequences of violence and the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, set up in memory of a tragic Rossendale teenager, which challenges prejudice. Ch Insp Carol Martin, for Bolton, said: “Police officers sometimes deal with crimes where victims could have avoided being subjected to violence or aggression on the streets if they had shown a little more care and foresight, and we hope this event will increase awareness of how to stay safe.”

The AFC Masters disabled football team, the 8th Bolton East Scout Group, the Castle Hill Police Boxing Club, people from Bolton’s I’m Not Laughing Campaign, which works to stop disability hate crime in the town and the Lesbian and Gay Foundation will also be attending. Bells for purses and personal safety alarms will be available. Cllr Derek Burrows, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for community safety and police, said: “A number of our council workers work on their own and we always put procedures in place to ensure their safety.

“We would like to urge Bolton residents to take steps to ensure their own safety, both at work and in their own lives.”

The event will take place between 11am and 4.30pm.

People are also invited to attend a talk by Christine Morrison, from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust on Monday at Victoria Hall at 5.30pm. Visit nationalpersonalsafetyday.co.uk for information.