Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Personal safety and basic crime prevention tips

We'd like to share some basic crime prevention tips to help keep you safe.

Safety at home

Did you know that, typically, a third of all house burglaries happen because a door or window has been left unlocked? So always ensure you lock your front and back doors whether you are in the house or not, to protect from opportunist burglars, particularly so in warm weather. Many burglaries do not involve forced entry at all, but affect houses which are left unsecured.

Always leave the key in the lock so that you can escape quickly in the event of a fire.

When you’re out, use window locks and set burglar alarms if they are fitted. When you go out in the hours of darkness, leave lights on to give the impression that the house is occupied. Set timer switches so you don't waste electricity.

Use a ultra-violet marker pen or an engraver to mark your postcode and house number onto all your valuable property. Take photographs of anything that cannot be marked easily, such as jewellery and keep these with your home insurance to help you in the event of a claim. Keep original purchase receipts for the same reason. Personal possessions can be registered free on: www.immobilise.com.

Walking in the local area

  • Travel in groups of two or more, even during the daytime, whenever possible
  • Stick to well-lit, safe routes that can easily be overseen
  • Avoid dark and narrow alleyways and quieter areas, particularly at night
  • Even if it takes a little while longer, take diversions into more populated areas if there is a suitable route
  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times - do not use mobile phones/headphones whilst walking
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash/valuables
  • Keep your phone hidden away in a pocket rather than in a bag, so that you can call the police if necessary
  • Isolated short cuts should always be treated with caution, even if it seems tempting to save time
  • Call the police on 999, if you have time, or raise the alarm locally by screaming/shouting/running, if you believe you are about to become a victim of crime

If you have any concerns about your personal safety, talk to the Campus Security team or the Police.

Support for victims of crime

If you experience or witness a crime, you can report in the following ways:

  • If you think you are in immediate danger, dial 999 (emergency services number for the UK) and request an urgent police and/or medical response. You should do this when:
      • An offender is still present and you are in danger
      • You or anyone else is seriously hurt
      • You think the offender may return

Please also complete the Incident Report Form if you have reported using 999.

  • If a crime has been committed and you wish to report it to the police, dial 101 (non-emergency number for the UK) as well as completing the Campus Security Team's Incident Report Form.

Support for victims of hate crime

Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity. This can be committed against a person or property. Anyone could be a victim of hate crime.

Wellbeing Support Services and the Students' Union Advice Centre are both designated as third party hate crime reporting centres and can support you to complete the report to either the University and/or the police.

Remember that the University and SU are here to provide you with a range of support services. Please contact us if you have experienced an incident or you have witnessed an incident that has happened to somebody else.

Please get in touch with us via Wellbeing Support Services if you have any questions or concerns.