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Generic content loaned from MissYourMum.com. My thanks to them.
CRISIS? - Emergency advice for crisis situations.
Useful Numbers - Useful Numbers from MissYourMum.com.
Health - Health & Advice from MissYourMum.com.
Student Support - From the team at Smarties.
Safety
Online Safety
Under Arrest
SAFETY - General advice on making sure you don't risk your safety
You may find yourself away from home for the first time when you enter university. At last you are able to choose what you want to do, and go where you want to go. That's a great experience (and sometimes a relief) but you also have to bear in mind that no one will look after you except yourself. So here are some tips on safety.
Take time to investigate the area in which you find yourself living and working. Maybe a group of you could go out to explore together. Make sure the area becomes familiar to you, so when you are there at night (perhaps after a visit to the pub) you don't become lost or disorientated. Have a look for your nearest pub, cashpoint and supermarket by all means, but also look for a 24 hour store, police station and taxi firm in case you need to call on them later. Also make sure youre aware of blind alleys and areas to avoid. Make a few reconnaisance trips while you are new to the area to get a feel for it. Dont just go straight out and have fun without knowing where you are, or whats round the corner. You will find out some useful things too!
Be aware that, although you have just arrived at university with other students who are all in the same boat, you don't yet know your fellow students. Be as careful with them as you would be with any stranger. Dont lend them money or go off with them to somewhere you arent comfortable on your own. Just make an excuse, you won't be seen as a 'tightwad' - just say you are short of cash, or your loan has been delayed. You might not see them again! They may be just as new as you, but this doesnt mean you can trust them until you know them well, and have worked out who to trust and who to avoid, the same as with anyone. If you want to make friends and meet people, try to encourage groups to go out together until you know each other better. Similarly going home with someone you have only just met can be really dangerous, especially if you have had a lot to drink. Make sure you stay safe.
If you are going out on your own, stick to the routes you know and make sure you are in a well lit area. This does not just apply to women - the author has many male friends who have been mugged in less salubrious areas. Know who is following you or nearby, and if you have a mobile phone or attack alarm, keep it handy. Seeing you use one of these can make an attacker panic and run away.
Do not attract attention, for example carrying a mobile phone or expensive item conspicuously. This particularly applies to mobile phone use in the street or around stations. Be aware of who is around you if you use a cashpoint late at night. Dont give people a reason to notice you.
If you are offered a lift home, decline unless it is someone you do know well, and you know where they are going (for example a flatmate). Call a taxi in preference, or if you must take a lift be sure to call a friend first and let them know where you are, who with and how long you will be.
All of this advice may seem obvious, but it is extremely important to make sure you don't put yourself in danger, especially as there may be a tendency to trust fellow students because you are all in the same boat. This may be true, and you will meet some great people at university, but you will also meet some idiots and some people you would rather not know, the same as anywhere in life. Just be aware, and be careful.
The Suzy Lamlugh trust site has more advice about personal safety.
Top
SAFETY Online - Being careful online - protecting your personal details
Probably you will have heard scare stories of young girls meeting middle aged men who had pretended to be lads of the girl's age. These things do happen, however it is not just in chat rooms you need to be aware. You may not know how much information can be found out about you.
If you have an email account, it is easy for someone to work out your name and other personal details, for example your university email address will give away where you study, (and often much more than this, such as your subject or year of study) and from then on it is easy to find you. If you want to publicise an email address, try an anonymous web-based one (such as hotmail) which won't give any personal clues away.
If you have your own internet domain, your name and contact details can be swiftly obtained over the net by looking for the domain owner's details. There is little you can do about this apart from being aware of it, and not attracting undue attention to yourself, so that no one is inclined to look you up.
If you use a talker or chat room, remember that people will lie about their identity. Many people use chat rooms as an escape from reality. Please do not be taken in. That is not to say they are using the net for any bad purpose - escapism is all part of the fun - but do be aware that however nice they seem, you really can't know or judge someone as well over the net as you can in real life.
If you do decide to meet someone you have met online, the same rules apply as for any meeting with a stranger. Arrange to meet in a public place, perhaps with a friend, and make sure someone knows where you are. Arrange your lift home in advance. Be cautious.
Protect your personal details - this includes your credit card number! Internet commerce is generally very safe, but make sure you are using a secure server every time you give credit card details. This means your card number is encrypted and cannot be 'snooped'. The way to be sure you are using a secure server is the URL, it will start 'https' and not 'http'. Another clue is the key symbol shown on some browsers. For more information, see the advice guide to protecting your rights when shopping online, at MissYourMum.
The internet is a great medium, wealth of information and a good entertainment supply.. but be sure to be careful with your information.
Top
Police - What happens if you are arrested?
What to do if you are visited by the police, and if you are arrested.
If the police visit your house:
Ask why they are there, and who they are looking for. It may be that they have arrested someone who has falsely given your address.
Ask to see their ID card and ask which station they report to. Ask them to wait while you ring that station to confirm their identity. There have been robberies by bogus visitors and this is a reasonable request. The police station may also be able to let you know why they think these policemen are there. Check that this is what you were told!
Talk to them on the doorstep. The neighbours might see, but you have nothing to hide. The police can generally only enter if you invite them in. If they should enter and make any discoveries, make sure they have a warrant and are entitled to be there.
If the police have a warrant, then they do have the right to enter your house. Ask to see the warrant, make sure the details are correct. Assuming that the warrant is valid, comply with their requests. If they have a warrant to search, they can force entry, causing damage. They do not have to put everything back as they found it! It is in your interests to help them in these circumstances.
If you are arrested:
Make sure you actually are being arrested. If the police officer asks you to accompany them, find out whether you are being arrested and what the charge is. If they say they just want you to help them, say you will turn up the next day with a solicitor (but make sure that you do so, and that you co-operate with them as far as possible).
If they are arresting you make sure you know what the charge is so you know what they suspect you of from the outset.
Go peacefully.
If you are at a rally shout your name clearly so that organisers can keep track of you.
Say nothing about the charge. You will have a chance to comment later. Simply give your name and address when asked.
Do not panic. You may well be released swiftly (or if you are drunk, after you have had a chance to sleep it off).
What to do at the station:
Ask for a pen and paper. Note the name and number of the arresting officer, the charge, and your account of events. This should be done as soon as possible with facts, dates, and times. If the case comes to court police officers will read from their notebooks, and it will help your case if you have notes that you made 'while the events were fresh in your mind'.
Ask for a solicitor. If you can't name one (or can't afford one) ask for the duty solicitor. His services should be free while you are in the station and you have a right to it. Do not answer any questions without him present, even if you are sure you have done nothing wrong.
You do not have to answer any questions at all, although a court may make inferences from your silence.
Make a phonecall. You have a right to do so. Call someone responsible who you know will let the relevant people know where you are, and who may be able to help you if necessary. Ideally this should be someone you know well and can rely on, as opposed to a fellow student that you have only recently met.
You are also entitled to go to the toilet, and to reasonable refreshment. If you need a drink, ask for one.
Let the police know at once if you have any medical needs, for example prescriptions you must take, or mental health conditions that they will need to consider. Ask to see a GP if you need to.
Every time any request from you is refused, write down the reason for this, and ask again later.
The police have the right to pat you down for dangerous weapons, to ask for ID, to take your photo or fingerprints, and to ask you questions.
The police do not have the right to intimidate or threaten you, nor to search you intimately unless drugs or explosives are suspected to be concealed on your person. If they ask to body-search you, ask on what grounds they are doing this, and what they suspect they will find. If you are female, make sure a woman (officer or doctor) is present during the search.
The police may release you without charge, or with a caution. If they release you on a charge, it may be on bail with conditions. Make sure you know exactly what these are and stick to them. Ask your solicitor to explain the implications.
If you are a minor, you will only be released to a parent or guardian's care.
As soon as you return home, make further notes on what happened at the police station. Do not speak about the case or say anything which may jeopardise any court case. Also, look into claiming legal aid for your case.
To find out about legal aid, see the page, at MissYourMum.com.
Top
Generic content loaned from MissYourMum.com. My thanks to them.
CRISIS? - Emergency advice for crisis situations.
Useful Numbers - Useful Numbers from MissYourMum.com.
Health - Health & Advice from MissYourMum.com.
Student Support - From the team at Smarties.
Safety
Online Safety
Under Arrest
SAFETY - General advice on making sure you don't risk your safety
You may find yourself away from home for the first time when you enter university. At last you are able to choose what you want to do, and go where you want to go. That's a great experience (and sometimes a relief) but you also have to bear in mind that no one will look after you except yourself. So here are some tips on safety.
Take time to investigate the area in which you find yourself living and working. Maybe a group of you could go out to explore together. Make sure the area becomes familiar to you, so when you are there at night (perhaps after a visit to the pub) you don't become lost or disorientated. Have a look for your nearest pub, cashpoint and supermarket by all means, but also look for a 24 hour store, police station and taxi firm in case you need to call on them later. Also make sure youre aware of blind alleys and areas to avoid. Make a few reconnaisance trips while you are new to the area to get a feel for it. Dont just go straight out and have fun without knowing where you are, or whats round the corner. You will find out some useful things too!
Be aware that, although you have just arrived at university with other students who are all in the same boat, you don't yet know your fellow students. Be as careful with them as you would be with any stranger. Dont lend them money or go off with them to somewhere you arent comfortable on your own. Just make an excuse, you won't be seen as a 'tightwad' - just say you are short of cash, or your loan has been delayed. You might not see them again! They may be just as new as you, but this doesnt mean you can trust them until you know them well, and have worked out who to trust and who to avoid, the same as with anyone. If you want to make friends and meet people, try to encourage groups to go out together until you know each other better. Similarly going home with someone you have only just met can be really dangerous, especially if you have had a lot to drink. Make sure you stay safe.
If you are going out on your own, stick to the routes you know and make sure you are in a well lit area. This does not just apply to women - the author has many male friends who have been mugged in less salubrious areas. Know who is following you or nearby, and if you have a mobile phone or attack alarm, keep it handy. Seeing you use one of these can make an attacker panic and run away.
Do not attract attention, for example carrying a mobile phone or expensive item conspicuously. This particularly applies to mobile phone use in the street or around stations. Be aware of who is around you if you use a cashpoint late at night. Dont give people a reason to notice you.
If you are offered a lift home, decline unless it is someone you do know well, and you know where they are going (for example a flatmate). Call a taxi in preference, or if you must take a lift be sure to call a friend first and let them know where you are, who with and how long you will be.
All of this advice may seem obvious, but it is extremely important to make sure you don't put yourself in danger, especially as there may be a tendency to trust fellow students because you are all in the same boat. This may be true, and you will meet some great people at university, but you will also meet some idiots and some people you would rather not know, the same as anywhere in life. Just be aware, and be careful.
The Suzy Lamlugh trust site has more advice about personal safety.
Top
SAFETY Online - Being careful online - protecting your personal details
Probably you will have heard scare stories of young girls meeting middle aged men who had pretended to be lads of the girl's age. These things do happen, however it is not just in chat rooms you need to be aware. You may not know how much information can be found out about you.
If you have an email account, it is easy for someone to work out your name and other personal details, for example your university email address will give away where you study, (and often much more than this, such as your subject or year of study) and from then on it is easy to find you. If you want to publicise an email address, try an anonymous web-based one (such as hotmail) which won't give any personal clues away.
If you have your own internet domain, your name and contact details can be swiftly obtained over the net by looking for the domain owner's details. There is little you can do about this apart from being aware of it, and not attracting undue attention to yourself, so that no one is inclined to look you up.
If you use a talker or chat room, remember that people will lie about their identity. Many people use chat rooms as an escape from reality. Please do not be taken in. That is not to say they are using the net for any bad purpose - escapism is all part of the fun - but do be aware that however nice they seem, you really can't know or judge someone as well over the net as you can in real life.
If you do decide to meet someone you have met online, the same rules apply as for any meeting with a stranger. Arrange to meet in a public place, perhaps with a friend, and make sure someone knows where you are. Arrange your lift home in advance. Be cautious.
Protect your personal details - this includes your credit card number! Internet commerce is generally very safe, but make sure you are using a secure server every time you give credit card details. This means your card number is encrypted and cannot be 'snooped'. The way to be sure you are using a secure server is the URL, it will start 'https' and not 'http'. Another clue is the key symbol shown on some browsers. For more information, see the advice guide to protecting your rights when shopping online, at MissYourMum.
The internet is a great medium, wealth of information and a good entertainment supply.. but be sure to be careful with your information.
Top
Police - What happens if you are arrested?
What to do if you are visited by the police, and if you are arrested.
If the police visit your house:
Ask why they are there, and who they are looking for. It may be that they have arrested someone who has falsely given your address.
Ask to see their ID card and ask which station they report to. Ask them to wait while you ring that station to confirm their identity. There have been robberies by bogus visitors and this is a reasonable request. The police station may also be able to let you know why they think these policemen are there. Check that this is what you were told!
Talk to them on the doorstep. The neighbours might see, but you have nothing to hide. The police can generally only enter if you invite them in. If they should enter and make any discoveries, make sure they have a warrant and are entitled to be there.
If the police have a warrant, then they do have the right to enter your house. Ask to see the warrant, make sure the details are correct. Assuming that the warrant is valid, comply with their requests. If they have a warrant to search, they can force entry, causing damage. They do not have to put everything back as they found it! It is in your interests to help them in these circumstances.
If you are arrested:
Make sure you actually are being arrested. If the police officer asks you to accompany them, find out whether you are being arrested and what the charge is. If they say they just want you to help them, say you will turn up the next day with a solicitor (but make sure that you do so, and that you co-operate with them as far as possible).
If they are arresting you make sure you know what the charge is so you know what they suspect you of from the outset.
Go peacefully.
If you are at a rally shout your name clearly so that organisers can keep track of you.
Say nothing about the charge. You will have a chance to comment later. Simply give your name and address when asked.
Do not panic. You may well be released swiftly (or if you are drunk, after you have had a chance to sleep it off).
What to do at the station:
Ask for a pen and paper. Note the name and number of the arresting officer, the charge, and your account of events. This should be done as soon as possible with facts, dates, and times. If the case comes to court police officers will read from their notebooks, and it will help your case if you have notes that you made 'while the events were fresh in your mind'.
Ask for a solicitor. If you can't name one (or can't afford one) ask for the duty solicitor. His services should be free while you are in the station and you have a right to it. Do not answer any questions without him present, even if you are sure you have done nothing wrong.
You do not have to answer any questions at all, although a court may make inferences from your silence.
Make a phonecall. You have a right to do so. Call someone responsible who you know will let the relevant people know where you are, and who may be able to help you if necessary. Ideally this should be someone you know well and can rely on, as opposed to a fellow student that you have only recently met.
You are also entitled to go to the toilet, and to reasonable refreshment. If you need a drink, ask for one.
Let the police know at once if you have any medical needs, for example prescriptions you must take, or mental health conditions that they will need to consider. Ask to see a GP if you need to.
Every time any request from you is refused, write down the reason for this, and ask again later.
The police have the right to pat you down for dangerous weapons, to ask for ID, to take your photo or fingerprints, and to ask you questions.
The police do not have the right to intimidate or threaten you, nor to search you intimately unless drugs or explosives are suspected to be concealed on your person. If they ask to body-search you, ask on what grounds they are doing this, and what they suspect they will find. If you are female, make sure a woman (officer or doctor) is present during the search.
The police may release you without charge, or with a caution. If they release you on a charge, it may be on bail with conditions. Make sure you know exactly what these are and stick to them. Ask your solicitor to explain the implications.
If you are a minor, you will only be released to a parent or guardian's care.
As soon as you return home, make further notes on what happened at the police station. Do not speak about the case or say anything which may jeopardise any court case. Also, look into claiming legal aid for your case.
To find out about legal aid, see the page, at MissYourMum.com.
Top
