Personal safety

Personal safety

• If you think you are being followed, cross the road several times if necessary and go to a busy place (like a shop, an office, or petrol station – or if there is no alternative, knock on someone's door). Call a friend or family member to come and meet you or pick you up.
• Any Oxford University student can ask for help from any college lodge participating in the Safe Lodge scheme. Look out for the green circle by the lodge entrance where you can go in and ask for a phone call back to your own college welfare team and a taxi home.
• Shout and scream as loud as you can if you're being attacked, are threatened, or at risk of being attacked. This will alert people who may be able to help. It is also likely to cause the offender to run off.
• Consider buying a personal attack alarm to help in this sort of situation. Keep it in an easily accessible place and carry it in your hand if you feel at risk.
• If you regularly go jogging or cycling, try to vary your route and time. Stick to well-lit roads with pavements. If you're wearing headphones, remember you can't hear traffic, or somebody approaching behind you – it is always safer to wear in only one ear.
• You may wish to use a personal safety app such as Hollie Guard. This can be particularly useful when in an unfamiliar or quiet location, and when travelling alone, particularly at night. Hollie Guard can track your location and share this with trusted contacts in an emergency and has a number of other safety features. It is free to use.
• Sometimes you can find yourself in a situation that isn’t safe or that makes you feel uncomfortable. In premises that operate Ask for Angela, you can discreetly ask for help from a member of staff if this happens.
• Find other suggested advice for personal safety on our nights out page and on being a good safety citizen as part of the University's EveryDaySafe campaign.

Water hazards

Oxford's two main rivers, the Thames and the Cherwell are popular with recreational activities, however, stay safe near open water, in particular:

• Never swim, even where allowed, after drinking alcohol, or go near areas of water if you have been drinking (further guidance is available on the Royal Life Saving Society's Don't Drink and Drown campaign)
• Never enter water wearing inappropriate clothing and/or footwear (e.g. non-swimwear), even in areas where swimming is allowed and you've not been drinking
• Don’t dive or jump straight into open water – the current's strength varies with water levels and rainfall upstream
• Deep water can remain cold and cause potentially fatal cold water shock even on the warmest day
• Water can hide harmful submerged objects (large items, rocks, glass) and pollution that could injure you or catch on your clothing
• If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, don’t panic – extend your arms and legs out and float on your back until the effects of cold water shock pass
• Never enter the water to try to rescue someone – call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service
• Don’t enter flooded towpaths and be cautious around surrounding areas as flood water may loosen surfaces. Use alternative routes
• Don’t walk, run or cycle through water where you cannot see the bottom. Beware of rapid depth increases and hidden hazards, as even ankle-deep water can be dangerous

Sexual Harassment and violence

• Sexual harassment and violence of any form is never acceptable and never the victims' fault. Oxford University seeks to protect our students, as well as offer free and confidential support to all students affected by sexual harassment and violence through the University's Support Service (independent of your college or department, and whenever or wherever the incident occurred).

Travel

• When walking around the city, try to walk in groups. If this is not possible make sure you stay aware of what is going on around you. Wear one earphone instead of two.
• Always make sure that your phone and purse/wallet are kept out of view or carried in an inside pocket where possible.
• Always use pre-booked licensed taxis. Before you get in, check the name of the person they have come to collect and the destination. Don't volunteer the information first.
• When cycling, always wear a helmet and reflective clothing and ensure that your bike is fitted with lights and a bell (subsidised safety equipment and secure locks are available to purchase from the University).
• If buying a second hand bike, make sure you purchase from a reliable source, and register your bike on the Bike Register.
• The University offers students up to six hours of free cycle safety training. If you are new to cycling in busy traffic or used to cycling (or driving) on the other side of the road to the UK, refreshing your biking proficiency is the most effective step to ensure your safety on the road.
• Vision Zero is an ongoing campaign to help road users stay safe on Oxford roads. Look out for Vision Zero publications to learn about additional support and upcoming events.

For advice on getting home after a night out, visit the nights out page.

Holding on to your possessions

• If someone is trying to snatch your bag, let it go. You may get hurt holding on to it. Try to get a description of the attacker and tell the police immediately by calling 999.
• In most robberies, thieves attempt to steal mobile phones. Make sure you register your phone with Immobilise – this helps the police to recover your phone if it's stolen.
• Don't leave possessions unsupervised.

Money

• If you have contactless pay on your phone, make sure you also carry a backup bank card or cash in case your phone gets stolen while you are out.
• If using cash, use cash machines during the daytime if possible. It is best to use a well-lit cash point. Avoid machines in dimly-lit and quiet areas.
• Make sure that you put your card and cash away quickly – don’t keep them on display.
• Never write down your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
• Make sure you know your account number and sort code so that you can cancel your card quickly if it is lost or stolen.
• Only carry enough cash to cover what you need to buy and your journey home.
• Be alert to scams and potential fraud. Do not make any payments and contact the relevant team, or a member of staff for advice and help.

Armed attacks: Run. Hide. Tell.

• You should remain alert to the danger of terrorism or other armed attacks but should not let fear stop you from going about your normal day-to-day life. In the rare event of a firearms or weapons attack, please follow advice from Counter Terrorism Policing.

None of these suggestions guarantee you will be safe, but they can all make you less vulnerable to being targeted by others.