Be safe, Be streetwise.
The Information and Advice Centre can help if you have any concerns regarding personal safety and we also give out free personal attack alarms and give free booklets to students which can give you common sense advice when walking the streets at night, below are a few quick tips for you to take on board:
• If you are going out make sure you know where you are going and you have a planned route, it is sometimes good to tell people where you are going if you travelling on your own.
• When walking around Look confident, be purposeful and alert to your surroundings, people who look confident are less likely to be attacked.
• Try to avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or parks, as this will increase the amount of risk you will be in as it will often be dark and hard to see what is around you.
• Try not to draw attention to your valuables especially at night, keep things like Mobile phones and ipods well hidden from people.
• Avoid walking passed parked cars with their engines running and people sitting in them.
• If you are travelling by bus try to sit near the driver or by train try to sit in a busy carriage.
It is also important to be aware that when you are trying to get home late at night that you aware of the transport you are getting into, London has quite a big problem with unlicensed mini-cabs
• If you are stranded somewhere and need to take a taxi ensure that you use a licensed mini cab or licensed black taxi.
• It is always better to book a taxi in advance rather than trying to hail one late at night.
• If you can, try to share a cab home with friends.
• Confirm the details of the cab driver before entering the car to ensure it actually id your cab.
• Make sure you sit in the back if you are on your own and ensure that you leave all doors unlocked.
If you do happen to be the victim of crime it is important that you contact the police to report this or if it occurs on campus then to contact college security.
Obviously being a victim of crime can also affect you afterwards in your daily life and can often make you nervous of people and of going about your daily business, if you are feeling quite anxious after being a victim of crime there is help out there in the form of victim support, their contact details are:
Tel: 020 7259 2424
Website: Victim Support
Obviously some of you may not feel comfortable talking to a stranger regarding your issues so sometimes it is good to confide with friends and family and also The Information and Advice Centre can help talk through certain issues and can also advise you on the best people to talk to so you can solve your issues in the most effective way.
The Information and Advice Centre
Tel: 020 7594 8067
