The speed with which people are now able to make contact with, and arrange to meet is increasing the chances of being attacked by violent partners.

Reduce the risk of anything happening to you by following a few simple steps.

• Never meet a new contact at your home, their home or a hotel room. Meet in a bar, or a swingers club, where you can chat and get to know each other. If you then have doubts you can walk away in safety.

• Always insist on talking to the person on a telephone, so that you can make a note of it. If a person is not willing to give a number, they are almost certainly not a genuine swinger. They will probably be someone cheating on their spouse. If they are lying to a spouse, they are almost certainly lying to you as well.

• Leave a sealed letter with a friend or at home with all the details of who you are meeting, where you are meeting, and the telephone number, chat ID and email address of the person you are going to meet. Then should something happen they will be able to start looking for you.