STAYING SAFE IN WINCHESTER
The Student Union is aware of a couple of recent incidences off campus that have resulted in some students feeling unsafe. Although Winchester has a low crime rate and is one of the safest places to live in the country, we wanted to share some tips on keeping yourself safe and how you can report concerns.
- If you’re walking home in the dark, we would encourage you to stick to well-lit areas, even if this means not using a shortcut. Walk confidently and where possible face oncoming traffic to reduce the risk of cars pulling up alongside you.
- Be vigilant to your surroundings, and bear in mind that listening to music or using your phone could be a distraction and may make you a target.
- Try to avoid walking alone in the dark by using public transport, sharing lifts with friends or booking a licensed cab in advance. Only black cabs can be hailed from the street so don’t try to hail a minicab without booking it in advance.
- If you’re going out running we recommend telling someone the route you’re taking and how long you plan to be out for. You may also want to consider exercising with a friend. If you’re running in the dark, take steps to ensure you’re easily visible to drivers.
- Be cautious about answering the door to someone you don’t know. If a caller claims to be from a company or organisation, ask for ID. If you are uncertain about the ID, phone the organisation to check the caller is genuine. You should phone the number on your utility bill or search online, rather than the one on the identity card.
- Finally, we recommend that you don’t hide keys in obvious places, like outside the front door. Burglars will often look in the letterbox or under a plant pot as a matter of course.
We encourage any student who has experienced suspicious or threatening behaviour to report this to the police. If you would like support with reporting an incident, the Student Life Advice Team or Student Union Advice Centre can help to guide you through this process.
In a non-emergency situation you can call 101 or you can use the Hampshire Constabulary online reporting platform. You should call 999 if someone is in immediate danger, a crime is taking place or has just happened.
If you wish to report harassment, bullying or violence to the University you can email report@winchester.ac.uk via your unimail account.
The University Security team are on site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They deal with many different things every day and are always willing to help and assist where they can. If you need to contact the team on a non-urgent matter, you should email them on security@winchester.ac.uk. If the issue is urgent, you can call the team on 01962 827666 and they will assist you as soon as they can.
Winchester Student Union Advice Centre can be accessed by all current University of Winchester students. We aim to support students to make their own informed choices by offering free, impartial advice and information, on a range of matters. To get in touch please complete our advice enquiry form.
If you wish to carry a personal safety alarm with you when you’re out, the Advice Centre still has a small amount which can be collected for free.
