Students crime prevention advice

Listed below are some steps that can be taken to ensure your personal safety:

• Never leave your bag or coat unattended in a pub or night club; it is an ideal place for thieves.
• Never leave your drink unattended, as it is very easy for someone to put an illegal substance in your drink, which could have very serious consequences for you.
• Always make sure you know how you are going to get home after a night out. It is best to travel home with friends and not on your own.
• Book a taxi home before going out; do not flag down a taxi as you cannot be sure they are a licensed cab driver.
• Avoid any confrontation or fighting. If someone is threatening you then tell a doorman, but do not get involved.
• Never accept a drink from a stranger, i.e. a glass of wine or an open bottle. Go with the person to the bar if you want to accept a drink.

Wherever you are out, try and remember the following suggestions:

• Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do then choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag, fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• If you are attacked it is often better to shout "fire" rather than "help", as it tends to attract more attention.

There are several websites which give sound advice on how to keep you and your belongings safe when out shopping. Listed below are a few points which will go some way to ensuring you do not return empty handed:

• Make sure your purse, mobile phones and other valuables are well hidden from view, in the bottom of your bag or in a zipped pocket.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash with you when shopping.
• Keep pin numbers, cards and chequebooks separate.
• If the fastening of your handbag is on the side, keep the side with the fastening closest to your body and not exposed.
• Rucksack type bags with the opening on the back are not a good place to keep valuables as they are easily opened.
• Do not carry too many bags of shopping as it makes you defenceless against pick pockets.

In general though, wherever you are try and remember the following suggestions:

• Do not walk home alone late a night. If you do then choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• If you are attacked it is often better to shout "fire" rather than "help", it tends to attract more attention.

The only fully legal self-defence product at the moment is a rape alarm. These are not expensive and can be bought from most local police stations or supermarkets.

There are other self-defence products which claim to be legal (non-toxic sprays), however, until a case is brought before the court, we cannot say that they are legal.

We cannot endorse any of these products. If you purchase one of these products you must be aware that if you are stopped by the police and are in possession of one then it is possible that you will be arrested and detained until the product, its contents and legality can be verified. Any of these products bought from abroad will more than likely be illegal and it is advisable not to purchase them.

You must also be aware that any of these products could be classed as an offensive weapon and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place is an offence.

There are several options to solve this problem, but in all cases you will have to prove ownership of the bike before anyone can stamp it.

• Your local bicycle dealer may be able to stamp the bike.
• DIY stores do sell kits which perform the function.
• Your local police office may be able to provide the same service.

Yes they are. The best type of external light is one that stays on all the time. Any intruder that has made up their mind to break into a property will more than likely not be put off when a light comes on (that has been triggered by movement). If the light is on all the time then it may make them think twice before attempting to break into the property.

There are several other websites which give more precise advice regarding protective security in relation to the home, and your local crime prevention officer would also be available to advise you. The following points will be of general assistance -

• A burglar alarm is obviously highly recommended to make your house more secure.
• Windows and doors with a key operated lock on them.
• Lights on timer when you are out in the evening.
• Tell a trusted neighbour if you are going away, who can perhaps draw the curtains on an evening and remember to cancel milk and newspapers.
• Do not leave windows open if you are out, no matter how small.
• Have a chain and peep hole on the front door.
• Fit a restrictor to your letterbox to prevent people putting their hands through the letterbox to retrieve mail or open any locks on the door.
• Make sure your garden shed is adequately secure.
• Always keep doors locked even when in the house; an intruder can open the front door and grab your keys/handbag in a matter of seconds.
• All keys should be kept out of view but in an easily accessible place.

See www.immobilise.com which is a free website that you can use to register any property that has a serial number.

It is very rare for a person to be confronted by an intruder in their home.

In the heat of the moment it is not expected that you should make fine judgements as to how far you can go. You may take such steps which you honestly and instinctively believe are lawful and necessary self defence of either yourself, your family, or your property. You do not have to be attacked first to be able to use reasonable force in self defence.

Even if the intruder dies, provided you have used reasonable force in the circumstances described then you will not necessarily be prosecuted. If, having disabled the intruder you then go on and inflict further punishment then this would be deemed to be excessive and gratuitous force and you could be prosecuted.

If you suspect that a person is going to break into your house and you set a trap, rather than involve the police then this would not be deemed to be self defence or reasonable force.

If the intruder escapes with some of your property or you chase after them to affect a citizen's arrest you are still allowed to use reasonable force. The degree of force in this instance may have considerably reduced. To go beyond this as a form of punishment would again make you liable to a prosecution for assault and possibly civil action.

It should be understood that the Police will always have a duty to investigate this type of incident, but the Police and Crown office will always objectively assess all the facts recognising in the first instance that the intruder caused the situation to arise in the first place.

Whilst driving around in the car, keep all doors locked. This is to prevent people getting in the car and also from stealing valuables from the passenger seat whilst your vehicle is at a standstill at a junction etc.

• If driving late at night, make sure someone knows what time you are expected home.
• Make sure if setting off on a long journey, you have enough petrol, water, oil etc in your car.
• If parking and leaving your car, never leave valuables on view in the car. It is not even advisable to leave valuables at all in the car, even in the boot as a thief will always check the boot if they have broken into your car.
• Park your car in a well-lit and secure car park. It is worth paying a bit more to ensure yours and your car's safety.
• When parking at your house at night, make sure you have your house keys at the ready to save rooting for them in your pocket or bag.
• If you think you are being followed home, never go home, drive straight to the nearest police station or if you do not know where that is, drive to a shop, petrol station or any other place where there are lots of people.

In general though, wherever you are try and remember the following suggestions:

• Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do then choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag, fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading and listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone and whilst using it you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.

If you are attacked it is often better to shout "fire" rather than "help", it tends to attract more attention.