Personal safety

Take simple precautions to ensure your personal safety, particularly at night - further information on personal safety can be found in your SHU Insider's Guide.

Travel

  • If you are walking at night, keep to well-lit, busy streets, main roads and footpaths. Avoid badly lit areas, parks, and alleyways
  • Plan ahead, particularly if you’re going to a part of town you don’t know. Know how you will get home and let someone know where you’re going and what time you expect to be back
  • If you use public transport at night, sit near the driver on a bus or a tram, and in an occupied carriage on a train
  • Pre-book a licensed taxi, or know the locations of official taxi ranks
  • If you don't have money for a taxi, use your SHUcard to travel with the Safe Taxi Scheme we have set up with City Taxis - phone 0114 239 3939 and quote 'Hallam Safe Taxi Scheme.' You can leave your SHUcard as deposit for your fare which you can pay later at the HUBS reception and have your SHUcard returned
  • Always leave a venue, club, or pub with a friend or a group of friends. If you do have to leave early, let your friends know, travel in a licensed taxi, and text your friends to let them know you are safely home

Possessions

  • Ensure your mobile phone is charged and is in credit. Keep the money you need to get home separate, so that you don’t spend it
  • Keep handbags, purses, wallets and mobile phones out of sight and in a safe place at all times
  • Don't carry large amounts of cash and keep a secure record of your card numbers, or serial numbers of valuable electronics
  • Avoid using ATMs at night when you are alone

Alcohol

  • Eat before you go out and drink plenty of water. Drinking a glass of water or a soft drink between alcoholic drinks will help you not to get too drunk
  • Keep track of what you’re drinking, as well as how much. Do not leave your drink unattended or accept a drink from a stranger
  • The Union supports the 'Best Bar None' accreditation scheme which encourages responsible licensing and a safe night out in the city's bars and clubs

Emergencies

  • University Security provides advice and assistance for students on campus 24 hours a day 365 days a year - all security controllers and patrollers are trained first aiders
  • If you need the police, fire or ambulance services in an emergency, call 999 free from any phone
  • There is a separate 101 number for the police in non-emergency situations, save this in your phone
  • Report suspicious incidents to University Security (0114 225 2000) or the police
Not what you wanted? Try these pages: 
Your health and safety responsibilities
How do I contact Security?
Related topics: 
On campus