Safety

• Keep your passport in a safe place.  

• Store all other belongings safely: 

  - Using an ultraviolet pen to mark valuables with your name and College will mean the police can return items to you if they are stolen and recovered. 

  - Use a bike lock to secure your bicycle to a fixed object when you are not using it.  

  - Ensure your accommodation remains secure by locking doors and windows, particularly overnight and when you are out. 

• Don’t carry around large amounts of cash. You can use your bank card to pay for things.  

• Plan your routes when travelling around Cambridge. Not all streets are well lit, so keep to busy areas and travel in groups, or use public transport, when travelling at night: 

  - If you are travelling by taxi, always make sure that you use a licensed one. You can check whether a taxi is licensed by looking at the back of it to ensure an official licence plate is attached. You should never agree to travel in an unlicensed taxi with an unlicensed driver. 

• When socialising, do not leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers. ‘Spiking’ drinks with drugs or alcohol is a crime and individuals are often targeted in these environments. 

• Be aware of phone, email or text scams which may appear genuine and convincing.  

  - The University provides advice to students on How to Recognise a Scam to help you protect yourself and others from fraud. 

  - You can check with the International Student Office or your College if you are unsure about the authenticity of any communication you receive.  

• In an emergency, call 999 free from any phone:  

  - This connects to the police, fire brigade or ambulance service.  

• To report a non-emergency minor crime, call 101.  

If you have concerns relating to your personal safety or wellbeing, support and advice is available to you. 

You may wish to speak to your tutor or the wellbeing/welfare team in your College.  

Visit the University’s Student Support pages for more information on University support services. 

You can also contact the Students’ Unions’ Advice Service for confidential, impartial and independent advice on a range of issues. They can also signpost students to external sources of support. 

The University’s Safety Office provides guidance to help you stay safe when studying and working on University premises.