University is often the first time you are living independently, sometimes in a new city, with new people and even in a completely different country and culture. It can be worrying not knowing what to look out for when you're out and about, and how you can protect yourself. Take a look at the guidance below for a quick intro to staying safe when studying in London.
This content is largely adapted from the Safe Start and Women's Safety campagins - check them out for more info.
Travelling
During your time at Brunel, you may wish to venture into central London to explore the city and go shopping. London is a vibrant and bustling city, but like all large cities, it has its risks. Pickpocketing, phone snatching, and opportunistic thefts can occur, especially in busy areas or at night.
What to look out for
Pickpockets are prevalent in Central London, they will often operate in busy spaces such as stations, shops, queues or crowds. They may try to distract you or physically bump into you and steal your items quickly.
Phone Snatching has become an increasing issue across London. These individuals use mopeds, bikes and E-scooters to ride along the pavement and come up behind you to snatch phones and other valuables.
Criminals may try to look over your shoulder at ATMs or check outs to see your PIN number and target you afterwards.
Tips to stay safe
Keep your valuables as close to yourself as possible; always keep your phone and wallet in a zipped part of your bag and wear it close to your body
Always keep your valuables and shopping insight - try not to place anything on the ground or on the backs of chairs –keep them on or between your legs – somewhere where you can keep tabs on them at all times
Never put anything valuable in your back pockets or in pockets without zips – this makes you an easy target for pickpockets!
Whenever entering your card details, make sure to cover your pin, check no one is looking over your shoulder and that the ATM hasn’t been tampered with
Try to walk facing towards oncoming traffic, to help you spot someone coming close and approaching you
Avoid listening to loud music while walking, so you can still hear what's going on around you
Women’s Safety
In addition to keeping an eye out for the risks listed above, it is important to protect yourself against the potential threats, harassments or violence that women may face while in public. These can often feel very uncomfortable, personal and difficult to seek help for – but it is really important that you take your safety seriously and err on the side of caution. If you notice any of the following always try to report it to nearby staff.
Things to look out for
Cat-calling
Sexual assault
Unwanted staring or sitting uncomfortably close to you on public transport
Making sexually explicit comments or gestures - whether on the street, in a bar, on public transport or another public place
Unwanted questions, sexual attention or asking for sex
Up-skirting (taking pictures or filming up someone’s skirt without them knowing)
Flashing
Stalking - a pattern of obsessive behaviour e.g., unwanted gifts, communications, damaging property, physical or sexual assault; perpetrated by an ex-intimate partner, stranger or anyone known to the victim.
How to Protect Yourself
Attach personal safety alarms (rape alarms) to your keychains and bags
Report suspicious or uncomfortable behaviour from others immediately to the police, TfL or shop staff, or to campus security
Do not be afraid of getting up and moving to a different part of the train/bus – try to sit with people you feel safe/comfortable with
Share your location, route and estimated time of arrival (ETA) with friends or family so they are aware of where you should be
Ensure your phone always has charge; carry a small power bank for emergencies
Try not to share too much of your day to day life/routine on social media – and make sure to turn off any live locations e.g., SnapMaps
Only use official licensed transport such as Bolt, Uber or TfL Minicabs. Never accept lifts from people you do not know well.
Spiking
Spiking is the act of giving someone alcohol or drugs without them knowing or agreeing. For example, in their drink or with a needle. Spiking impedes your body’s ability to function and can potentially cause harm or leave you vulnerable. Spiking can put you at greater risk of injury, theft of assault. Not all case of spiking results in sexual assault or theft, but can cause serve distress, emotional harm, or anxiety.
Different Types
Drinks - adding drugs or alcohol to someone else's drink
Needles - injecting drugs into someone else's body with a needle or auto-injector pen
Vape / Cigarettes - giving someone drugs in a cigarette or e-cigarette
Food - adding drugs to someone's food
Signs & Symptoms
Look out for the following signs and symptoms in yourself or friends when you’re out for food, drinks or socialising with people in general:
Becoming confused or disorientated
Not being able to see or communicate clearly
Feeling sick, nauseous and vomiting
Losing your balance and having poor co-ordination
Losing your memory, blacking out and becoming unconscious
Hallucinating and becoming paranoid
Depending on what the person has spiked you with, symptoms can start within 15 minutes and can last for several hours.
What to do
If you think you or someone, you’re with has been spiked, the best thing to do is tell the people you’re with and seek medical help straight away. Call an ambulance if you are worried about their health or get to the nearest hospital and explain what has happened. The quicker you go to hospital, the more likely it is that the substance will be identified. Some drugs leave the body within 12 hours or much sooner.
If a friend has been spiked, then it’s important to make sure they get home safe. Stay with them so if anything happens or their condition deteriorates you can call for help straight away.
Reporting it to the Police
If you’ve been spiked and you would like to report it to the police. You can report it online, via the non-emergency telephone phone or in a person at a police station.
Report it online - Report Spiking
To report it through the telephone – In an emergency call 999, in a non-emergency call the national non-emergency telephone number – 101. The non-emergency telephone number is It is staffed 24 hours a day.
Report it in-person, at your nearest police station - Find a Police Station