How to Stay Safe at University and College — Streetwise Defence

know the risks

Unfortunately, students are often targets for criminals and predators. When criminals profile a potential victim they are looking for an easy target. And sadly, a young person, in a new city, living away from home, distracted by all the fun stuff going on and generally paying little attention to their own safety or that of their high-value belongings, fits the bill. Plus, rented student accommodation is notoriously poor and is likely to have old, unsecure windows and doors.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW 2020) states that:

• Men and women aged 16 to 24 years were more likely to be victims of sexual assault than those aged 25+

• Full-time students were more likely to have experienced sexual assault than people in any other occupation type.

The Office for National Statistics Report ‘Overview of burglary and other household theft: England and Wales’ 2017 reports:

• Where the household reference person was a younger adult (aged 16 to 24), households tend to be more likely victims of domestic burglary than those where the household reference person was in older age groups.

We’re not trying to scare you with these statistics, we just want you to be fully aware of the risks. If you know the risks then you can take preventative action to mitigate them and stay safe.

Crime at University

• Burglary – valuable possessions such as laptops and phones in unsecured accommodation

• Phone snatching – taking advantage of students with headphones or who are distracted

• Bike theft – due to the high numbers of students using bikes to get around

• Assault – can be during a mugging but also between students due to alcohol and drugs

• Sexual assault and rape – most of these crimes are committed by someone known to the victim.

Personal Safety

If you’re thinking this all sounds a bit depressing, don’t despair – you don’t have to be a victim! You can take control and learn how to keep yourself safe.

Our number one piece of advice for every student is to take responsibility for your own personal safety and that of your belongings.

Having been young ourselves once, we know that safety is the last thing on your mind, especially when starting university. You want to go out, enjoy yourself and live life to the full – and you 100% can do this. Just take a few precautions and stay switched on. Doing this can save you and your family the trauma of a burglary, robbery, assault or sexual attack.

Here are some tips to keep safe at university:

Trust your instinct

Learning to trust your gut instinct is one of the most important skills we teach. Many people think self defence is about learning punching, kicking or martial arts – it’s not! Self defence is about knowing yourself, knowing the psychology of attackers and how attacks happen, avoiding dangerous situations and having a simple but effective physical response, should you need it.

Try tuning into your gut instinct and start listening to it. Our subconscious picks up on all types of signals that you aren’t consciously aware of. It could be someone’s unnatural body language, someone stood in the wrong place, their clothes that don’t fit the situation or the natural flow of people that has been disrupted.

If you feel something is off, then it probably is. Act on that feeling – never dismiss it and never tell yourself that you’re being silly.

This might mean turning around instead of going through an underpass, asking for help from a bus driver, or running away. Do whatever it takes to listen to and honour what your body is telling you.

Not sure what gut instinct is? It can be different for many people and can include:

Be prepared and responsible

1. Fully research the area you will be living in, look at:

2. Keep a secure file with a copy of all your important documents e.g. passport, driving licence, insurance phone number, bank phone number and emergency numbers such as your landlord and parents. Also, your phone’s IMEI number. Bascially, everything you would need if your purse and phone were stolen.

3. Plan ahead – think about where you are going, with whom and how you will get home.

4. Take a fully charged mobile phone with your friend’s numbers and emergency contacts.

5. Save money for a taxi and keep it separate so you don’t spend it without realising it. Have taxi numbers in your phone or pre-book.

6. Don’t drink too much! When you’re drunk you are much less likely to pay attention to what is around you and this could put you in a dangerous situation. Don’t risk walking home drunk, you’re an easy target for a criminal or predator. if you choose to take drugs, be aware of how they will affect you and that your senses and judgement will be affected.

7. Keep an eye on your drink and, as tempting as it is, don’t accept drinks from strangers. Drink spiking is happening at universities across the UK.

8. Don’t be fooled into thinking campus is a safe place with no crime – attacks, robberies and rapes are reported every year at universities. And many more are never reported because people feel shame afterwards.

9. Don’t go out alone at night – arrange to meet friends and stay with a group.

10. Stay in well-lit areas with other people around. Don’t take shortcuts and never go through a park at night.

11. Don’t wear headphones or use your mobile phone while walking on the street – concentrate on what and who is around you.

12. Don’t leave your bike unattended and unlocked – even for 5 minutes. Many crimes are not planned and are committed by opportunists who spot an easy target and go for it.