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Student Information, Advice & Guidance personaladvice
Safety For many of you this will be your first time living away from home, and for some it will be your first time living in an unfamiliar country. This guide is designed to give you practical advice about living and studying in London and how to keep yourself and your belongings safe, as well as where to seek advice and assistance should you require it. Personal safety
Cabwise
According to the Home Office, students are statistically one of the most likely groups to fall victim to crime. You can limit the chances of this happening to you by adopting a ‘safety conscious’ attitude and following our tips which will help make you less vulnerable.
Go to the TFL website and download this useful app for your smart phone, if you need a taxi and don’t have the number of a cab firm in the area or simply text ‘CAB’ to 60835*. You’ll immediately get one taxi and two local licensed minicab numbers sent to your mobile. *Charges
There are four key rules: • Be aware of your environment and those around you • Avoid trouble • Register your property • Report incidents Many of our students will be living in London for the first time or at the very least, be residing in a new area. We advise that whenever you move and wherever you move to, you explore the area (preferably with someone else) until you feel comfortable with your new surroundings. You may find these tips useful for building confidence and keeping safe: • Never leave a drink unattended • Try to avoid waiting at isolated bus stops. • Sit near the driver or family groups when using public transport • Do not hitch hike or accept lifts from strangers or unlicensed minicab drivers (see Cabwise) • Be discreet with mobile phones, ipods etc. • Avoid taking short cuts along dark alleys, parks or wasteland. Use well lit and busy roads and walkways and vary your route if you go that way regularly. If walking back from somewhere new, plan your route and stick to main roads • Walk on the pavement on the same side of the road as on coming traffic, so that you can see vehicles coming towards you. • Avoid walking home alone and travel with people you know. • If you have an attack alarm always carry it with you . • Keep items of value such as mobile phones or lap top computers concealed. Out of sight is always safer and cover up expensive jewellery
Updated 24/01/2013
35p per text plus standard text message rate.
Remember: 1. Only London taxis (black cabs) can pick you up on the street. If a minicab driver approaches you, it is illegal (even with a Transport for London sticker). 2. Any minicab journey that is not booked is illegal, uninsured and unsafe. It is a criminal offence for drivers and operators to allow journeys to be made that have not been booked with a licensed operator over the phone or directly through their office. 3. The reason why booking is so important is that your journey will be in a licensed vehicle with a licensed driver. In addition, you can be certain that a record will be kept of your journey, your driver and the vehicle used, therefore the driver can be traced. 4. Deciding to risk taking an illegal cab after a night out can be extremely dangerous. Illegal cab drivers pose serious risks to the travelling public and can be a cover for some of the most serious crimes in London including sexual violence against women and robbery. 5. Even when booking a licensed minicab, be sure to give the operator your name and ask for details of the driver and car. When the minicab arrives, check that it is the correct vehicle and ask the driver to confirm your name and destination. •
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Have your door key ready when you get to your front door and check there is no one behind you before you enter. Always report an incident, however trivial, to either the police or College security.
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Think and walk confidently and don’t show feelings of insecurity. Look at people approaching you and don’t put your head down; they’ll know you have seen them and can identify them. Be alert, trust your own instincts and use common sense. Most importantly, don’t feel tempted to carry a weapon; it is illegal and more likely to be used against you.
Protecting your property •
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If you think you are being followed: •
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Cross over the road and if you are followed, cross back again. If you are still concerned, go to the nearest public place - a shop, pub or house with lights on and call the police on 999. Do not use enclosed pay phones, in which you could be trapped. If someone tries to grab your possessions, do not resist. Try to get a good look at them and then call the police giving your location, the description and the direction the assailant went off in.
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Always try to keep some cash aside in case you need to get a taxi home. Keep the number of a reliable taxi company with you or use Cabwise (see page 1) Always sit behind the driver. When the taxi arrives, always check it is the one you have booked - ask them for the name it is booked under and do not offer the information yourself. Licensed mini-cabs will have ID from their company. Watch out for unlicensed cabs or individuals touting for business, pretending to be your pre-booked cab. If in doubt DO NOT get into a vehicle.
If you are threatened: • • •
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Set off your personal alarm if you have one. Make as much noise as you can by shouting or screaming. Try to get away as quickly as possible. Always ring the police or College Security immediately, having retreated to a place of safety. Don’t leave it until you have made arrangements to get home. If a vehicle is involved, try to identify the colour and make a note of the registration number.
Personal safety alarm Hopefully you will never need to use one but it is advisable to have one, just encase. Make sure you carry it at all times, in a pocket or somewhere else that is easily assessable. For personal alarms from £2.75 see: http://personalalarms.com/ Please note: It is illegal to carry any sort of weapon including knives, self defence CS gas sprays/mace, guns or stun guns.
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Many burglaries happen when a door or window has been left open. When in a private home or flat, lock up whenever you go out - with deadbolts if you have them In a hall of residence, be careful who you allow in or who follows you into the building - lock your bedroom door even if you are only going down the corridor. If you are concerned that there is a stranger in the hall, contact the Hall Manager or Security immediately If possible, use cash-machines during the day - put your card and cash away and be vigilant - never write down your PIN Keep cards and chequebooks separately - note down your card details so you can cancel them quickly Always lock your car and put valuables out of sight never leave the keys in the ignition even when paying for petrol Be vigilant when using your mobile phone (see below) Protect yourself with insurance - keep lists of the make, model and serial numbers of your electronic items to help police track them down if they are stolen Mark your property with the initials of your university (e.g. KCL - King’s College London) and your student ID number - this makes it harder for a burglar to sell stolen goods and can help the police to return items to you. Police recover thousands of mobile phones/ipods etc. each year but are unable to trace the owners as there is no way to identify them. The property is destroyed if no owner can be found.
If someone threatens you always: 1. Hand over your property - your safety is more important! 2. Report the incident to the police immediately using 999 or as soon as you feel safe. 3. Tell them exactly what happened. 4. Give the police a good description of the thieves (e.g. age, height, colour, clothing), particularly anything distinctive about them 5. Where did they go? 6. The quicker the call, the more likely the culprits will be found and your property recovered 7. Report the loss/theft to your service provider 8. If you need help and support please call the Student Advice Line 020 7848 6858 or attend the next advice drop-in. In addition, Victim Support is the national charity for victims of crime. You can call the Support Line on 0845 3030 900 or attend a local office www.victimsupport.org.uk
Student Information & Advice
Student Information, Advice & Guidance
Mobile Phones
Safety in the home
As soon as you get your new phone mark it; record the serial number and register it straight away with Immobilise this is a national database which the police can access. www.immobilise.com/index.php • Always be discrete in public • Report any theft to the police and your service provider • To help get your property back, always register your possessions with Immobilise;
Safety in the home is often over looked but you are much more likely to come to harm in your own home than anywhere else.
What is the IMEI? It is the ‘International Mobile Equipment Identity’; this is a 15-17 digit number that identifies a handset and it is assigned at the time of manufacture. It is in the phone memory and can be found by keying in *#06#. It is also on a sticker, usually on the back of the battery, as well as on the box the phone came in. It is useful to know incase the handset if it is stolen.
Report the loss/theft of your mobile phone to your service provider Company Contract Pre-pay Orange/EE 07973 100150 07973 100450 Vodaphone 07836 191191 08700 776655 O2 08705 214000 08705 678678 T-mobile 08454 125000 08454 125000 Virgin media 08456 000789 08456 000789 3 mobile 08707 330333 08707 330333 Tesco mobile 08709 004455 08709 004455 BT 08000 322111 08000 322111 TalkTalk 08700 878751 Giffgaff Contact form: http://giffgaff.com/ 0800 free call from a landline check with service provider if using a mobile. 0845 and 0870 numbers are country-wide numbers, usually used by large companies, hospitals, banks and other businesses. They are also known as ‘non-geographic’ numbers, as they aren’t limited to one particular area code. A 10 minute day time call to a 0845 number will cost between 26p and 67p depending on your provider. A 10 minute day time call to a 0870 number will cost between 66p and 107p. Calls from mobiles may be more. 07 numbers will be charged at a mobile call rate (please check with your provider)
Crimestoppers If you know someone who is involved in crime, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You could stop someone being robbed, or seriously injured, with one phone call and you may be entitled to a reward.
Accidents Unfortunately, your home is the place where accidents are most likely to occur. Everyone should be aware of the dangers in the home so that accidents can be avoided. Every year in the UK almost 4,000 people die in accidents in the home and 2.7 million arrive at accident and emergency departments seeking treatment (The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents). Fire and Carbon Monoxide poisoning are responsible for many household accidents and injuries but you should also be aware of medicines, poisons, damaged furniture or flooring which may cause a trip or other injury (especially dangerous on stairs) and the hazards involved in cooking and using electrical devices. To avoid accidents of this nature, use your common sense: • Keep the property clean and free from pests • Repair damages as they happen or report them to your landlord • Keep labels on medicines and poisons and keep them out of reach of children • Ensure that carpets and rugs do not bunch up or come away from fittings • Do not leave toys, clothing or other items on stairs or walkways • Do not be distracted when cooking (by a television or another person) and make sure pot handles are turned in so that they are not knocked off the cooker by someone walking past • Do not use faulty electrical equipment and unplug anything you are not using. Do not leave electrical equipment running when you leave your home
Fire When you are looking to move into private rented accommodation, the last thing on your mind might be fire safety. However, houses shared by students are particularly at risk of fire as they can present lethal dangers. Common fire safety standards for all student homes: • no unsafe electrical wiring; • a basic fire warning system; • an escape route, free from obstructions or materials that burn easily; • good maintenance and repair of all means of escape and fire precautions; • locks on exit doors which can be opened easily without a key;
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fire extinguishers and fire blankets in shared kitchens; and fire resistant furniture and furnishings.
Always consider these issues when looking at a private property and if you are already living in the private sector, check your property is compliant NOW. If you have any concerns contact your landlord, local fire service or a Student Adviser. Working smoke alarms are a vital protection from the dangers of fire in the home. They provide the early warning and precious time which can save lives and prevent injury. Occupiers without a smoke alarm (which discovered the fire) are four times more likely to die in a fire than those who own alarms! Remember it is your responsibility to test your smoke alarms weekly and vacuum the casing monthly to ensure dust isn’t blocking the sensors. Fires started by smoking materials account for more than one-third of all fire deaths. Never leave a lit cigarette or pipe unattended while you answer the door or telephone. Never smoke in bed and extinguish all cigarettes before going to sleep. Always keep your matches and lighters in a safe place, well out of reach of children. Students in Halls of Residence are asked to familiarise themselves with the fire safety and evacuation procedure at their residences. Please refer to the Guide to Living in King’s Residences or speak to your Hall Manager if you require further information.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon Monoxide poisoning is often referred to as the silent killer; it occurs when gas does not burn off properly and gives off carbon monoxide rather than carbon dioxide? This can occur in properties where gas equipment is not serviced regularly/the property is not sufficiently ventilated. Landlords are legally required to provide a gas safety check every year by an engineer registered with the Gas Safe Register. When moving into a property, always ask to see the most recent gas safety certificate. If it is over a year old, insist a new gas safety check takes place. How do I know if I am at risk from carbon monoxide? Although carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, signs that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring, resulting in the production of CO, include: • Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (apart from fuel effect fires or flueless appliances which display this colour flame) • Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances • Pilot lights that frequently blow out • Increased condensation inside windows
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What should I do if I think my appliance is spilling carbon monoxide? • Switch off the appliance and do not reuse until remedial action has been taken • Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you know where it is). If gas continues to escape call National Grid on the Gas Emergency Free phone Number 0800 111 999 • Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room - do not sleep in it • Contact your landlord to arrange for a Gas Safe Registered engineer to service the appliance • Visit your GP urgently and tell him/her that you believe your symptoms may be related to carbon monoxide poisoning and request either a blood and/or breath sample What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? Early symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness. Symptoms to look out for include: headaches breathlessness nausea dizziness collapse drowsiness loss of consciousness tiredness vomiting pains in the chest stomach pains erratic behaviour visual problems For more information visit call NHS Direct 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/. If you or your family experience any of the above symptoms and you believe CO may be involved, you must seek urgent medical advice from either your GP or an accident and emergency department. You should ask for a blood or breath test to confirm the presence of CO. Be aware, CO quickly leaves the blood and tests may be inaccurate if taken more than four hours after exposure has ceased.
Need further advice or information? The Compass and Student Advice www.kcl.ac.uk/advice Transport for London Cabwise www.tfl.gov.uk/cabwise London Fire Brigade www.london-fire.gov.uk/SafetyAtHome.asp Gas Safe Register www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ Safe - The Metropolitan Police Service www.safe.met.police.uk/
