A Safer Community

糖心原创 > Student Living > Community Engagement > A Safer Community

A Safer Community

Bringing down crime in Nottingham

With a huge student population, Nottingham is one of the most vibrant cities in the UK.

Starting university can mean some significant life changes - making new friends, studying in a new city, going out to new places and living independently for the first time. Our award-winning campuses and their surrounding areas are generally very safe but settling into a new city can increase your risk of becoming a victim of crime.

Whether this is your first time living independently or you’ve been in Nottingham for a while, we want to make sure you can safely enjoy your experience at the 糖心原创.

The university works with Nottinghamshire Police to ensure your time in Nottingham is safe and secure. A lot of the crime involving students is opportunistic so you can reduce your risk of being affected by crime by following the advice on this page. You can also sign up for Nottinghamshire Alert to get key crime messages directly to your inbox from the officers in your area.

Download our guide to personal safety Nottingham Police supporting student communities

Personal Safety

Nottingham is a friendly city, and our campuses are safe places. The city has been granted Purple Flag status since 2010, which indicates that Nottingham is one of the best and safest places for a night out in the UK. The 糖心原创 works alongside multiple organisations developing initiatives and schemes to make this possible.

Like in any city, it is important that you stay alert and look after yourself and your belongings. It's good to have an idea of what to do if something doesn’t feel right or you want to report something. You can contact the 糖心原创 dedicated policing team via email for guidance on personal and property safety

You can also check out our top tips below:

General Safety

Keep your mobile phone on, charged and with you at all times.
Invest in a portable phone charger.
Avoid walking with headphones in. You should be alert to your surroundings at all times.
Follow road safety guidelines. Look carefully before stepping out and use crossings.
Keep cash and valuables out of sight – use inside pockets and zipped bags.
Do not use your bank pin or date of birth for your phone password.
Stay alert at cash machines.

Carry a personal alarm. The Community Engagement Team can provide you with a free hand held alarm
Keep a list of the make, model and serial numbers of electronic items. Mark them up with a UV pen.
Register your valuables for free. Best way the police will get lost or stolen items back to you. Immobilise database
Insure your personal belongings against theft and damage with adequate cover

Nights out and coming home

Plan with your mates how you are getting home before you head out.
Keep people updated on your plans.
Consider using a location app for trusted friends and family.
Check out where you are going in advance. Is it your vibe? Does it have safety features in place?
Day or night, if you are looking for a safe space in Nottingham, someone to talk to, or somewhere to charge your phone, you can find it here: .
Get to know the travel safety features of the tram, bus, train and taxi.
Take your portable phone charger in case you or your friend need a boost.
Stick together, check in regularly and have a designated meeting spot.
Ask at the bar for Angela. It’s a discreet way to ask for help if you need it.
Being intoxicated makes us more vulnerable to risky behaviour and being a victim of a crime. Know your limits. Stay clear of rounds, drinking games and doubles.
Buy your own drinks and keep them with you at all times.
The Community Engagement team can provide you with a spike prevention drink topper; get in contact.

Don’t use other people’s vapes; you don’t know what they have in them or why they are offering it to you.
Keep hold of your phone. Never hand over your phone for someone else to put their phone number in; some scammers might try this.
Be discreet about your phone PIN; once someone has your phone PIN, they have the ability to reset it and access everything within.
No matter how good the deal seems, avoid lifts home- particularly from random people and unlicensed taxis.
Avoid walking home where possible. Use the SU safe taxi scheme in an emergency or if you don’t have access to money to pay.
If walking home is unavoidable, stick to well-lit routes, avoid shortcuts, and walk with your friends.
Remember using e-scooters whilst intoxicated is dangerous and could result in you losing your driver's licence.
If ever you have any immediate concerns for your own or anyone else’s safety, call 999.
Nottinghamshire police can be contacted on 101 or online for general enquiries.
Nottinghamshire police have dedicated uniformed officers in town to help ensure the evenings run safely.
Street Pastors are also there to help support you. They are volunteers who patrol the streets, helping if you are vulnerable. Find out more:

Something doesn’t feel right?

Stay together.
Ask for Angela at the bar. This is a discreet way to ask for help.
Report any concerns to the venue.
Seek medical support if you or someone you are with feels unwell and needs help – 999 in an emergency or 111 for advice.
Report to the police. 999 if it is an active situation or you have concerns for your, or someone’s, safety. 101 for general enquiries.
You can report anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Report to ‘’ to ensure you have a follow-up and support from the University.

What to do if you or someone has been spiked:
You can now report spiking and get a test at Cripps Health Centre without having to visit a police station:

Follow us on for further safety tips and to hear more about our personal safety campaigns

Burglary Prevention

Student accommodation, whether on or off university campus, often contains many more possessions than an average family home. With multiple occupants having laptops, tablets, mobile phones and game consoles, student residences are extremely desirable for burglars.

Burglars like it easy- like an unlocked door and an open window. Don’t make it easy for thieves- keep your doors and windows locked.

Further tips below:

Protect the property

Keep windows and doors locked, even if you’re in
Never share access codes to your house/flat/halls with non-residents, and don’t let anyone in without checking their identity first.
Always ensure keys are kept out of sight and away from doors
Make your home look occupied when you are out – leave your lights on or use timer switches.
Lock your door as soon as you leave and when you return. Don’t be tempted to leave it unlocked for your housemate returning soon
Keep side gates locked and secure
Speak to your landlord regarding a CCTV camera or outdoor security lights
If you have a burglar alarm, set it! If it's not working, speak to your landlord
If you have any security questions or concerns with your property, speak to your landlord. If you experience issues with this, contact the SU advice team at suadvice@nottingham.ac.uk
You can report any disrepair to Nottingham City Ciouncil -
Your local council can also assist with poor security and housing conditions
Get to know your neighbours, particularly if they are full-time, long-term residents! A good relationship with your neighbours means that they will likely look out for your property
If you see or hear anything suspicious, report it to 101 or 999 in an emergency.
If you find that your property has been broken into, call the police immediately via 101 or 999 if you have any immediate concerns or the incident is happening at the time.
You can also report to the community engagement team and to the university policing team, who will visit you at your home address and give you safety advice and alarms/products to make you feel more comfortable
You can find out what is going on in your local area by signing up for.

Protect your posessions

Keep valuables out of sight of windows, especially on ground floors.
Consider privacy curtains or blinds.
Avoid leaving empty electrical boxes/packages outside your home. Don’t advertise your new stuff.
Take your valuables with you during vacation periods.
Use timer switches to make it appear your property is occupied.
Keep bikes secure with a D-lock, even if locked away in a shed.
Mark your property with an ultraviolet pen so that it is identifiable.
Register your property for free on the Immobilise database and improve your chance of getting it back if it is lost or stolen:
Insure your personal belongings against theft and damage with adequate cover in case you need to replace possessions.

Harrassment and Hate Crime

Hate crime

The 糖心原创 has always maintained a strong commitment to supporting and celebrating our diverse community. We want you to feel safe and welcome in Nottingham because it’s as much your home as it is anyone else’s.

Hate crimes can take many different forms, from race and religion to sexual orientation and identity to disabilities. It's important that you know how to recognise and report them.

If you experience hate crime, it’s important to report it. This can help prevent it happening to someone else, and allows the Police to understand hate crime in your local area and improve the way they respond to it.

Download an information leaflet on how to report in:

English Chinese Arabic

Reporting hate crime

Report + Support

Report online at

This is a confidential reporting service and all reports will be passed to the correct team who will respond as soon as possible.

UoN Security

Contact security@nottingham.ac.uk or 0115 951 3013 (monitored 24/7).

Security staff will take an account of the incident and offer support, including assisting with a report to the Police.

Students' Union Advice

Contact suadvice@nottingham.ac.uk

Students' Union Advice is a True Vision hate crime reporting centre - if you believe you have experienced hate crime, contact the service for more information.

True Vision Hate Crime

Report online at .

This is a confidential reporting service, and all reports are passed on to the Police.

Nottinghamshire Police Video in Cantonese:

Right column

Domestic violence

The Home Office defines domestic violence as 'any incident or pattern or incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 years and over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality'. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

Psychological
Physical
Sexual
Financial
Emotional

If you are feeling unsafe in the place where you live, please consider contacting the University, as we will be able to offer you advice and support.

You may feel unsafe from family members, a partner or ex-partner, or it may be a friendship which has become difficult.

Relationships with friends can also become unhealthy and abusive, and whilst this may not be identified as domestic abuse, it can impact negatively on a student’s well-being and safety. This can particularly be the case when students are sharing accommodation.

If you are worried that a housemate or close friend is causing you harm, please contact the University for advice and support via

Cycle and vehicle safety

Bikes are often targeted by thieves because they are left poorly secured or not secured at all. It takes just a few seconds for the opportunist thief to steal a bike that is left unsecured.

Protect your bike

Follow this advice to protect your bike and to increase the chances of it being returned to you if it is stolen.

Lock your bike up every time you leave it using secure locks (D-Locks are the best).
Ideally, use two different types of lock – this makes it harder to steal.
Fasten your bike through the frame and wheel to a fixed object.
Lock your bike in a busy, well-lit place, in view of people or CCTV cameras.
Make use of access controlled bike stores when on campus.
Make the lock and bike hard to move when parked – keep the gap between the bike and the lock small.

Take easily removable bike parts like lights, seats and wheels with you, so no one else does.
Vary your routine - lock up your bike in different ways and places.
Photograph your bike and record its details at . The university policing team can help you code your bike for free.
Permanently mark your bike for identification.
Insure your bike either on contents insurance or separately.

Vehicle Safety

We strongly advise that you do not bring your car to University as parking on campus and in the community is extremely limited. We encourage the use of public transport with student discounted travel on an award-winning bus and tram network. The university also operates a free hopper bus between campuses.

If you feel that bringing your car is absolutely your only option, then please consider these tips to keep your vehicle safe from criminals.

Lock all doors and close all windows every time your vehicle is left unattended, however briefly.

Always remove the ignition keys and never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Remove all valuables such as laptops, sat navs, phones and bags.
Remove marks on the windscreen left from sat nav suckers.

Always keep your vehicle keys in a safe place, out of sight and away from windows and doors.
Protect your identity. Do not leave any documents containing your personal details in your vehicle.
Park your vehicle in a well-lit residential area overlooked by houses and ideally covered by a CCTV camera.
Check that your number plates are intact before you start your journey; if missing, report to the police via 101 or online
Use a mechanical immobiliser, for example, a steering lock if your car is not fitted with an electronic immobiliser.

Victim support

There are lots of support services available to you during your time as a university student. The wellbeing support team are here to support you through whatever it is you are going through https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices/wellbeing/student-wellbeing.aspx

If you would rather talk to someone independently from the university for whatever reason, Victim CARE provides free and confidential support to victims. You do not have to have reported the matter to the police to receive support

Call 0800 304 7575 orto find out more about Victim CARE and how to self-refer.

Staying safe online

Many of you will use the internet as part of your daily lives, for university study, shopping, socialising, entertainment and banking. By following this advice, you can help protect your personal data and keep yourself safe online.

Protecting your personal data and keeping yourself safe online

Think before you click a link in an email. Do you know and trust the sender? Fake ‘phishing’ emails can be very convincing.
Never give your PIN or passwords over the phone - your bank or the police would never ask for these.
Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
Don’t leave personal details lying around and shred personal correspondence before disposing.
Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software on all devices and keep it updated.
Back up any important data as this will stop any loss of files if your device breaks, gets lost/stolen or is infected by malware.
Don’t assume public Wi-Fi hotspots are secure – never use them to do anything confidential like using your email or making a payment. Where possible use your mobile network internet which will have built-in security.

Check your privacy settings. It’s up to you who sees your photos, updates and profile information - be aware of your digital footprint and what information is available about you
Be careful what you post online - ‘checking in’ at places online can alert burglars to the fact you are not at home, and posting images of new and expensive items can also be risky.
Think before you add friends or contacts: Do you know them? Do you want to give them access to your photos, etc.?
Avoid sharing personal information in public, like your phone number or address.
Think before you join in a meme, e.g. ‘your celebrity name is your first pet’s name and your mother’s maiden name’: these are often your bank security questions too.
Only shop from secure websites - these will show a locked padlock or unbroken key in your browser, and the URL will begin with https://.

Sextortion/Revenge Porn/Relationship Blackmail

Sextortion is a type of cybercrime where victims are persuaded into performing acts of a sexual nature in front of their webcam. These acts are recorded, or allegedly recorded, by the criminal, who threatens to upload the recordings to the internet and send them to the victim’s friends and family if demands for money are not met.

Nobody has the right to share intimate images or videos of you without your consent. Intimate image abuse is often referred to as ‘revenge porn’. Maliciously sharing intimate images of others without their consent is a crime and is a form of sexual abuse.

People online are not always who they say they are. Criminals create fake profiles and identities to befriend people online. Criminals are manipulative, often spending time trying to get to know their victims first to lure people in. Some will send out thousands of generic email threats, hoping that someone will panic and respond.

Think before you share. Even if you are in a relationship. Sharing intimate images can immediately change the relationship balance.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need help, we are here to support you. Remember that you are not alone and follow the advice below:

De-active your accounts.
Do not engage in further communication.
Keep a copy of the interaction.
Report and get help. There are lots of experienced non-judgemental support services and help available to you.

Don't panic.
Don't pay.
Don't be embarrassed.

How to report:

Nottinghamshire Police are encouraging anyone who has experienced intimate image abuse to contact them. Officers want to hear from you and want to help. Report to the Police by calling 101 (non-emergency) or 999 in an emergency.

A member of UoN security staff will always be available to help you with advice, guidance and if appropriate, help you report the matter to the police. UoN Security can be contacted 24 hours a day on 0115 951 8888.

For further advice about fraud or cybercrime, you can contact , the UK’s national reporting centre for cybercrime.

Here at the University, we have a significant amount of support services available to you. Reporting and getting additional support is easy. Please use the Report and Support platform.

Further information:

Download Nottinghamshire Police Sextortion advice card HERE

Domestic Abuse & Unhealthy Relationships

Report + Support

The 糖心原创 is committed to ensuring we do everything we can to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone. Our campuses are a pleasant and inclusive place to study and work but, as with any community, issues can arise.

The University does not tolerate bullying, harassment, hate or sexual misconduct on our campuses. If you, or someone you know, has experienced or witnessed an incident like this, you can tell us anonymously or provide your contact details through our Report and Support system.

OR

What can be reported?

Bullying and harassment
Discrimination
Exploitation
Domestic abuse
Fraud
Hate incidents or hate crime
Hazing/initiation
Sexual assault or sexual violence

If you are a student and require support completing the above form, please speak to the Support and Wellbeing team (click on 'I need some support'), who can help you with this.

FAQs

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