How much does safety mean to you?

15 July 2021

We have all heard of Professor Christopher John MacRae Whitty CB FRCP FFPH FMedSci who is an English physician and epidemiologist who serves as the Chief Medical Officer for England and Chief Medical Adviser to the UK Government.

Sadly, on 29th June 2021, Chief Medical Adviser Chris Whitty was harassed while walking through a park and, more recently, Formula 1 driver Lando Norris was mugged and had his £40,000 McLaren watch stolen from him in a public car park after the Euro 2020 final.

These despicable acts of harassment, intimidation and assault serve to remind us how real the risks to our safety and possessions are, especially if you are a high-profile person. Our thoughts are with both Chris Whitty and Lando Norris who came face to face with the guilty criminals. In both scenarios, the crimes were seen by witnesses yet they were still carried out in public.

Making a walk in the park, a walk in the park

It shouldn’t be difficult, or stressful walking through a park. The situation that Chris Whitty found himself in could have been avoided and, with the right protection, the aggressors could have been deterred from what they did. 

Walking in a park should be a joy. It shouldn’t be a place where we fear for our life.

Hidden Security

When it comes to being protected while out in public there are various options. 

Politicians who feel threatened can request police protection, while high profile public figures can employ bodyguards to keep them safe, but this has its limitations. 

Having 24/7 bodyguards watching over you 24 hours a day and even at weekends when you want to get away from the stresses of work-life can cost a lot of money over the long term, and it’s possibly not the ideal way to live your life on a daily basis. 

An alternative solution to bodyguards for your personal safety to have a fully-trained protection dog that will deter criminals. If Chris Whitty had a protection dog when walking through the park, he would not have been accosted, and not only that but he would not have looked out of place walking through a park with a dog.

Protection dogs are low cost to keep on a daily basis and are fully trained to deal with various scenarios and different levels of threat to life.

Unlike a bodyguard that follows you around, protection dogs don’t impose on your daily personal life. They will quietly accompany you wherever you go but still be ready to deter, scare and even attack if necessary in order to defend you, your loved ones and your possessions.

Can you put a price on safety?

With any confrontation, there are 2 types of costs involved. The cost of any possessions stolen, such as Lando Norris's £40,000 watch that was so cruelly snatched from him and the emotional cost of being threatened in a highly intensive confrontation. Emotional costs can impact how safe you feel for many years to come when going out in public and this is something you can’t assign a cost to.

If you would like to know more about investing in a fully trained protection dog and how they can help you feel safer, get in touch with K9 Protector today. Our security dog trainers will be happy to discuss your protection needs in a confidential manner.

You can find out more about the above situations using these links: 

Professor Chris Whitty: Video of 'thugs' harassing England's chief medical officer

Formula 1 Lando Norris attack: Lando Norris mugged and McLaren watch stolen after Euro 2020 final