Safety Needn’t Cramp Your Style

More and more students are falling victim to violent attacks and muggings whilst walking home at night. Crime levels maybe falling but statistics show that one in three students will still be a victim while studying at college or university. Maybe not what you need to hear, but the fact is criminals can see students as easy targets. That doesn’t mean you can’t protect yourself though.

The UDSU are becoming more and more concerned about the welfare of its students and would like to remind you of the importance of Student Safety.

Here are a few tips on Student Survival that we would urge all you guys to take into consideration at all times. The ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude is naive and out dated; the fact is it is happening and its time that you started to sit up, pay attention and most importantly Play It Safe!

This information has been brought to you in association with the Home Office. For further up the minute information check them out at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/how-you-can-prevent-crime/student-safety/

Don’t Have Mug-ging Written All Over You

• Women feel most in danger walking down the street yet its men who are more likely victims of muggers. Protect yourself from being considered as easy target.
• Keep bags closed, zipped up and buckled. Be extra careful with rucksacks. If someone grabs it, let it go. Bags – and their contents – can be replaced.
• Carry your wallet out of sight.
• When using a cash machine, go in daylight or with a mate if you can, or choose a well-lit one.
• Don’t be flash with cash (keep in your pocket) or laptop (keep hidden in an anonymous bag like a rucksack). If you take your mobile out with you, keep it hidden and keep calls brief.
• If you suspect you’re being followed, cross over the road see if they follow. If you’re still worried, don’t hang about. Go into a pub or shop to call a mate to meet you, or the police.
• Have a house keys ready before you reach the door – and carry them on you, not in your bag. Rummaging around for them means you’re not looking at what’s around you.
• Walk confidently and be aware of what’s going on at all times.
• Try to blend in and avoid wearing your “Drunk” or “Lost” student badge.
• Remember if you’re chatting on the phone or listening to your personal stereo, you won’t hear someone come up behind you. Your hearing is your best protection; your voice is your best defence. If you’re attacked, shout and run.
• When your gut says there’s trouble ahead, there probably is. Get somewhere safe.
• Steer clear of a confrontation. What’s the point? Who needs the hassle?
• If something does happen to you, report it to the police and campus authorities. You could stop it happening to someone else.
• Personal Alarms are available from all UDSU reception points and Lonsdale Bar, charged at a minimal cost but well worth investing in for your personal safety and piece of mind.

Before Going Out

• Figure out exactly where you’re going and how you and your mates will get there and back. The majority of attack cases involve looking lost, taking short cuts in the early hours or walking home alone. Share a taxi or walk together.
• Consider using a personal alarm (available from UDSU reception at Kedleston Road and in Buxton, starting from only £2.00) and carry it in your hands when walking at night so you’re at the ready. Don’t set them off as a joke – people may start to ignore them. It’s not OK to think: “it’s a dark alleyway, but I’ve got an alarm”. Remain cautious.
• Put a bit of extra money in a separate pocket to fall back on if it’s late; you’re drunk and need a cab home. £5 / 10 is a small price to pay for getting home safely.
• Half of burglaries happen because a door or window has been left open – it’s that simple. So lock up (even if you’re just popping to the kitchen or bathroom).
• Make sure your TV, video and other valuables can’t be seen from the outside (when its dark close curtains, and try to leave a light on).
• Tell a flatmate where you’re going – and phone if you stay out for the night.
• For further information on how you can protect yourself from crime visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Your Safety, Your Mobile—Safe Text!

Safetytext is a delayed text message service designed to enhance your personal safety.

The concept is simple; you set up a delayed text message from your mobile phone, which could raise the alarm if something happens to you. It is confidential, and you can cancel it when you are safe.

Whether you’re travelling abroad or merely heading back home from a friends house, just register and fill in the secure profile page so that if anything happens to you, wherever you are in the world, vital information can be supplied to the authorities instantly. If you are safe, these details and your texts remain totally confidential.

To find out more visit www.safetytext.com

Student Nights – The Place To Be!

UDSU affiliated nights are the only nights where the UDSU stipulations apply. Should an incident occur you would be protected by the Unions policies and Equal Opportunity legislation. We work closely with all the venues, which host UDSU nights in order to provide the safest and most students friendly atmosphere possible. This does not happen in other student nights. Whilst we can’t guarantee your safety we are able to reassure you that there are measures in place to protect you.

Get Home Safe

Here at The Source we thought it was about time we started being a little proactive about getting you student’s home safe and sound, as personal safety is becoming more apparent then ever.

It is for this reason that we are happy to announce that we can now officially recommend Derby Cabs to all students as a safe and secure way to travel.

Derby Cabs have been chosen for you guys as unlike other firms they offer the following services:

• Call-Back: When your taxi is due to arrive the driver will activate Call-Back and your mobile will ring twice and then cut off. Pay By Card
• Derby Cabs have also started allowing customers to pay by card to cover the cost of their journey. In the past money has been the preferred option with Taxi firms; however Derby Cabs appreciate that often students prefer not to carry vast quantities of cash on them and coming home from a night out, students manage to spend their last pennies over the bar or on takeout. However, from now on instead of having to make the cold walk home, you will now find that nay 757575 or 722722 cab will be happy to accept payment by the vast majority of cash and credit cards.
• It is worth bearing in mind that Black Cabs (or yellow as they are these days) are the only Taxis licensed and insured to offer an un-booked service, and whilst it might be tempting to walk home from a night out alone to try and save a couple pf quid it’s really not worth it!
• The Source has formed an extremely proactive relationship with Derby Cabs and will continue to work in partnership with them to offer all students a safe and secure means of getting home. The Cabs can be identified by a ‘UDSU recommended’ sticker that they will carry in their windows, and any student travelling with them should feel confident that they are in safe hands. On top of this if any student shows their student card a further 10% discount will be made on any journey over the price of £3.00.
• There really isn’t any excuse for not getting a Taxi home with these measures now in place; the ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude is dangerous and out-dated. By having this attitude you are putting yourself in an extremely vulnerable position. If you express a little extra caution there is no reason why you can’t have a wicked time and still stay safe along the way.