international office guide personal safety and security in ......protecting yourself and your...

International Office GuidePersonal safety and security in Nottingham

www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/support

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International Office Guide

Nottingham and the University are generally safe places to be. However there are things that you can do to ensure that both you and your possessions are even safer. This guide aims to give you some general guidance on keeping safe in your day to day routine, in your home and in the city.

Personal securityThe University Security service provides a 24-hour uniformed presence on all campuses. The Security Office is located at the rear of the Hallward Library, with a main Control Room in the Trent Building on University Park. There is also an office in the Main Building at Sutton Bonington. The Security Office has responsibility for:

• advice on crime prevention and the detection of illegal activities

• provision of crime/incident reporting• investigation of complaints in relation to staff,

student and visitor behaviour• administration and enforcement of traffic

management policies• issuing of car parking permits• management of keys (including ordering,

cutting and supply)• recording and safe keeping of all lost/found

property• issuing and administration of University cards

Phone: 0115 9513599 (ext 13599 internally) for Security ReceptionPhone: 0115 951 3013 (ext 13013 internally) for

24-hour Security ControlPhone: 0115 951 8888 (ext 18888 internally) for emergencies ONLY

The Security Office website gives information on all services offered and all contact details for specific queries. www.nottingham.ac.uk/security

Reporting emergencies

On campus an emergency can be reported by phoning Security on extension 18888.

Off campus, or in addition to calling Security, you can also report an incident to the police.

The number for emergency services anywhere in the UK is 999. This should only be used for serious emergencies which require immediate action from emergency response such as if your house is on fire, if you’ve been attacked or harmed in any way, or if you’ve just seen a serious crime being committed. The number is the same if you need an ambulance or the fire service.

Your call should be answered within 10 seconds. A trained staff member will ask you to describe what has happened and where you are. They may ask if you need any other emergency services, such as an ambulance.

If the situation is an emergency, a police officer, ambulance or firefighter will come to the scene to talk to you. They’ll ask you to explain what happened, and they can help you decide what to do next.

The information provided in this guide is correct at the time of publication (May 2015) however it is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please check the online version of this guide at www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/support

Personal safety and security in Nottingham

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Reporting non-emergency crimes

If you want to report a crime which is not an emergency, such as a stolen mobile phone, you should go to your nearest police station to report it, or call the Nottinghamshire Police Force on 101.

By not using 999 for minor crimes, you’re making sure that people in genuine emergency situations can reach the police quickly.

Non-emergency crimes can include:

• vandalism / graffiti

• abandoned cars

• pickpocketing

There is more detail about contacting the police in the UK here: www.gov.uk/contact-police

Crime Prevention

In any city, it is advisable to follow some simple procedures in order to stay safe. There are some very useful tips and information on the Nottinghamshire Police website: www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/ crime-prevention-guides-overview

University Security work closely with the Nottinghamshire Police Force to keep you and your belongings safe while you are studying at the University. For interactive advice and tips about protecting yourself and your belongings, see the Easily Done website, www.easily-done.co.uk In general, you can protect yourself by always taking care to:

• lock your doors and windows before you go out and also when you are in at night

• think ahead - don’t travel home alone late at night

• try to walk with a group of people

• avoid shortcuts and keep to well-lit areas

• never leave your bag, or wallet unattended

• don’t show off your cash, mobile phone or laptop or leave them lying around

• make a list of your personal property including serial numbers

• try to go to the cash point in daylight if possible

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out an insurance policy to make sure that all your personal items are covered against theft and damage, including laptops and mobile phones. You can check if your university accommodation contract includes some insurance. If not, it is very important to purchase insurance to cover your personal belongings whilst you are living in the UK. For personal belongings or contents insurance, companies like www.endsleigh.com can be contacted, or you can do price comparisons on the internet for student insurance or contents insurance.

Marking and registering your property

The local police work with University Security and University halls of residence to mark your property for free using SmartWater. SmartWater is an invisible liquid coating which can be put onto your valuable personal property. The coating contains a unique code which can only be seen under ultra-violet (UV) light. Using the liquid increases the chance of recovering your items if you are the victim of a burglary. You can speak to your Hall Manager for more details.

If you are not living in University halls, you can also mark your property in a similar way with your postcode in ultra-violet (UV) marker pen. You won’t be able to see the information unless you shine a UV light over it and inexpensive pens are available from most hardware stores.

You can also register some of your more expensive items with the National Mobile Property Register. This is the database that the police use to match stolen goods with an owner. You can register items like:

• laptops

• cameras

• musical instruments

• video games consoles

Registration is completely free and the database lets you flag if any of your registered items have been stolen. The University Security team run events at the start of term and can advise further. Visit thenmpr.com to register


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Staying safe onlineFrom time to time email scams affect students at Nottingham. These emails often claim that you have won money, are likely to win money, ask for you to loan money to someone in desperate need or claim that you can easily get a job. It is quite likely that the email is a scam and you should not respond. Under no circumstances should you provide personal information such as your bank details. If you have not made any enquiries related to the email or entered any competitions, you should treat such claims with extreme caution. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you have a virus on your laptop or personal PC which is affecting your online security, you can contact the Cripps Computing Centre on University Park for further advice: www.nottingham.ac.uk/it-services/services/computer-repair-service.aspx

Safety on the roads and pavements of the UKWhether you are a pedestrian, cyclist or driver, you must follow the rules laid down in the Highway Code. Please visit www.gov.uk/highway-code

Riding a bicycle in the UKPlease note the following 10 important points about riding a bicycle in the UK:

• you must wear appropriate clothing so that other road users can see you.

• you should wear a cycle helmet.

• your bicycle must have front and rear lights and you must use these lights at night.

• your bicycle must also be fitted with a red rear reflector.

• when riding a bicycle on the road you must obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals.

• you may only ride in bus lanes if the sign includes a bicycle symbol.

• you must not cycle on the pavement unless there are special signs allowing you to do so.

• you must not carry a passenger unless your bicycle has been specially adapted to carry one.

• you must not ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner.

• it is an offence to ride under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Ridewise

Ridewise is an organisation based in Nottingham that offers free cycling tuition to adults and children. For more information see www.ridewise.org.uk

Ucycle Nottingham

Ucycle Nottingham is an initiative set up to support cycling in Nottingham and between campuses. Ucycle runs a variety of activities and events such as student bike hire, free cycle training from Ridewise and bike maintenance workshops. For more information see www.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainability/transport/cyclingandwalking

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Driving in the UKBefore driving any vehicle (car, motorbike, van etc) in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), you should check that you meet all of the legal requirements which apply (a) to the driver and (b) to the vehicle; and that you are aware of the correct procedures, which may be very different from your home country.

It is a criminal offence to drive using a licence that is not valid in the UK. Check here to see whether you can use your license to drive in the UK: www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

You may be allowed to do so for a limited period of time only. We recommend that you also read the guidance produced by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA): www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/driving.php

Please note the following important points about driving a car in the UK. There may be further restrictions if you are looking to hire a car.

• you must be at least 17 years old

• you must have a license that allows you to drive in Great Britain. Most international students are able to drive on a full valid driving licence from their own country for a maximum period of 12 months. This 12-month period starts from the date that you first arrive in the UK

• your car must be registered, taxed and insured

• if the car is more than 3 years old, the car must be checked and a certificate of roadworthiness, known as an MoT test, must be obtained every year

• you must drive on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right

• you must not drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• you must observe speed limits: 20, 30 or 40mph (miles per hour) in towns and built-up areas, 70mph on motorways and 60mph on all other roads

• you must stop if you have an accident in order to exchange details with the driver of the other vehicle

• it is illegal to drive a vehicle or ride a motorbike and use a hand held mobile phone or similar device. It is also illegal to supervise a learner and use a hand-held phone. If you accept a roadside fixed penalty notice, you will receive three points on your licence and a fine. If a case goes to court, in addition to points, you could face discretionary disqualification and a maximum fine of £1,000.

• it is a criminal offence to drive dangerously Seat belts and child car seats The UK has strict laws around the use of seat belts and correct child car seat usage. You must use a seatbelt if there is one fitted in the seat you are using, there are very few exceptions: www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law

There are rules around the correct use of child car seats, detailed here: www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules



Notes

We’re here to help, get in touch:

We offer a professional and confidential advisory service to all international and EU students both before they join the University and once they have arrived.

You can contact us by email, telephone or in person. We run a regular service where you can meet an International Student Advisor, Monday to Friday throughout the academic year. To find out more about our service times and locations, please visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/advisors The International Office is located at:C Floor, YANG Fujia Building Jubilee CampusWollaton RoadThe University of NottinghamNG8 1BB

t: +44 (0)115 951 5247 f: +44 (0)115 951 5155

e: [email protected]

We are always looking for ways to develop and improve our support service and welcome feedback from staff and students.

The information in this leaflet is given in good faith and correct at the time of writing. It has been carefully checked in line with UKCISA and Home Office guidance, but The University of Nottingham accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

If you would like any further information or assistance, please contact us. The advisors, Rosemary Gibson, Melanie Bentham-Hill, Ruth Hudson, Amy Newham, Hong Sun and Deborah Webb are authorised to provide immigration advice and services by an order made under Section 84 (4) (d) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If at any time you are not happy with the advice you have been given by the International Office, in the first instance you should raise this with the Head of International Support and Engagement or the Director of the International Office. If the matter is not resolved or you are still unhappy, you can make a complaint to the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) via their website www.oisc.gov.uk


If you require this publication in an alternative format, please contact us:t: +44 (0)115 951 4591e: [email protected]

The International OfficeJubilee CampusThe University of NottinghamWollaton RoadNottinghamNG8 1BB, UK

t: +44 (0)115 951 5247 f: +44 (0)115 951 5155w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/international

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