Safety Tips

Stick to the main roads at night and try to stay in areas that you know well.

Try and avoid certain areas at night, e.g. parks, alleys or short cuts, particularly if travelling alone.

Don’t talk to strangers, especially if they are trying to offer you something or are asking for money. This includes people selling travel cards or tickets in or around stations.

If traveling on night buses you may feel safer if you sit downstairs.

Night buses run regularly and serve the surrounding areas well. You can find out times and routes for all buses, including night buses, from the Transport for London (TfL) website, www.tfl.gov.uk.

Don’t take unlicensed taxis. If you have to use a taxi then try and use a mini-cab company or a black cab. For the telephone number of a licensed local taxi firm, text ‘HOME’ to 60835. The service, provided by Cabwise and endorsed by TfL, can be used anywhere in London, 24 hours a day.

Drunk people can make easy targets, so try to ensure that you sober up before travelling home, especially if you’re travelling alone.

Don’t have money or expensive items (phones, iPods, laptops etc) on show when you are out and about. If people don’t know you have them on you, you have less chance of making yourself a target from crime.

Be fully aware of your surroundings - using personal stereo equipment such as iPods may leave you less aware of what is going on around you, if you are traveling home alone late at night this may make you more susceptible.

Keep your valuables in your room and make sure they can’t be seen through windows, especially if you’re on the ground floor.

Make sure your home is secure at all times, locking windows and doors before you go out or go to bed. Pull your curtains after dark to discourage people from peering in.

Don’t prop doors open or give access to your house, flat or hall of residence by holding the door open to let people in as you leave; they may not belong there.

Don’t leave keys outside under doormats, or inside within easy reach of doors, windows or letterboxes. Avoid giving your keys to anybody else – it can put you at risk and may also compromise other people’s safety.

Check safety equipment in your accommodation, e.g. if you live in rented accommodation make sure it’s fitted with a working smoke alarm, and test it regularly.

Useful contact details

Dial 999 in an emergency, if you are ever in any doubt or concerned for your safety – it doesn’t matter if it turns out to be a false alarm.

If it is not an emergency, contact your local police station. If you’re based in Greenwich you should contact Greenwich Police Station on ( - 24 hours).

Greenwich Council Community Safety / / www.greenwich.gov.uk/communitysafety 

Victim Support - www.victimsupport.org.uk

Crime Stoppers - www.crimestoppers.co.uk