Individual Safety

It's important to think through your individual safety, especially when going out and if you choose to drink.

Before going out 

• Before stepping out the door, think ‘Do I have my keys, money, phone and plan to get home?’
• Pre-book a taxi – make sure you know how you’re getting home
• Look out for your friends and arrange a safe meeting place in case you get separated
• Save an in-case-of-emergency number in your phone
• Stash some cash in case you lose your purse

When you're out 

• Keep an eye on your drink –never leave it unattended as it could get spiked
• Stay aware of what is going on around you
• Keep away from situations you feel uncomfortable with
• Never accept a drink from anyone you don’t completely trust
• Know your limits and always stay in control
• Never mix alcohol with drugs

If you walk, do it safely

• Never walk alone at night; stick with your friends
• Always keep to busy, well-lit areas and use main routes/paths
• Walk towards the traffic
• Never take shortcuts down dark alleys or through parks
• Consider carrying a personal alarm or loud whistle
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times - don't wear headphones or talk on your mobile
• Never accept a lift with a stranger or someone you don't know very well

Crime Prevention

Taking time to ensure that you and your belongings are safe is well worth the effort and gives you peace of mind.

As a student you may own more expensive technology than the average person. Here’s some advice to help you stay safe and happy whilst in the city:

Keep valuables out of the sight of windows - especially if your room is downstairs.

Check window locks, especially on downstairs and basement windows and your doors. Keep your doors and windows locked when you go out. This sounds obvious, but doing this can prevent more burglaries.

Make sure your wheelie bin is in your yard, and that your gate is shut and bolted.

If you have expensive items, don’t leave the empty boxes outside your house - rip them up and file them under a bin.

Mark your property to make it harder for a burglar to sell your property on. It can also help the police to return items to you.

Insure your property

Get insured - keep lists of the make, model and serial numbers of your electronic items. This information can help the police track down stolen items.

Keep in mind that some insurance companies don’t pay out if the thief gets in through an unlocked door or window. See www.immobilise.com for further details.

Personal safety

Don’t walk home alone. Meet up with your friends and use a marshalled taxi rank at Central Station, The Bigg Market and The Gate.

If you walk home keep to well-lit paths on the main routes out of town. Avoid shortcuts, alleyways and deserted areas like car parks.

Remember that drunken behaviour or antics on the way home may get you a conviction.

Useful Services

Don't feel you need to handle your safety on your own. Services such as Student Wellbeing, Student Progress, the advice centre and other crime support are available to all students.

Student Wellbeing 

Student Wellbeing provides information, advice and guidance on a wide range of student support issues:

• counselling and mental health
• disability
• specific learning difficulties
• faith
• fees, funding and finance
• healthcare and medical matters
• general wellbeing

Student Progress Service

Student Progress offers a broad range of services to students, graduates and staff. These services cover the entire student life cycle and include:

• data/registration
• timetabling
• visa advice
• research student support
• examinations
• regulations
• case work
• congregations

The Student Progress section is also responsible for a range of procedures that cover specific circumstances which some students may face during their studies.

Victim Support 

Victim Support is a national charity which helps people affected by crime. They provide free and confidential support to help you deal with your experience, whether or not you report the crime. If you are not sure you want to report it to the police, you can talk to other agencies.