- Get help immediately
- In an emergency dial 999 or 112
- As soon as you can, go somewhere you know is safe
- If you have been attacked, don't shower or change your clothes as it may destroy evidence
- If you have the confidence, tell the police why you think you were attacked
- If you have had your keys taken, ensure you change the locks
- If you want to pass information about offenders, you can contact Crimestoppers or call on 0800 555111
- Call 999 or 112
- Let the police know what you've seen. Don't assume others will come forward. Many crucial witnesses walk away thinking someone else will report it
- Stay alert and safe
- If it is safe to do so, take a photograph or video on your mobile phone. Remember, however, that the police are likely to need your phone as evidence
- Record details of times, number plates, descriptions and so on. If you don't have a pen with you, leave a voicemail message on your mobile phone or write a draft text message. As soon as you can find a pen and paper, write down the information in as much detail as possible
- Contact your Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) if you have one
- If you want to pass information about offenders, you can contact Crimestoppers or call on 0800 555111
As a student, there are many different support options for you. Most campuses will have a student union, student support team and local rape crisis centres for you to access.
Rape, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment:
Culturally Specific Services:
Rape, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment:
- Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC):
Offers advice, support, counselling, sexual health screening referrals, forensic medical examination and the support of an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) with or without police involvement.
Find your local SARC on the NHS website
Alternatively, call NHS 111, speak to your GP or ask in A&E. - Rape Crisis England and Wales:
Network of independent Rape Crisis Centres that provide frontline, specialist, independent and confidential services to women and girls of all ages who are subject to any form of sexual violence.
Helpline: 0808 802 9999 (12-2:30pm and 7-9:30pm)
Scotland Helpline: 08088 01 03 02 - The Survivors Trust:
Offers resources and links to services, as well as guidance for those supporting survivors.
Helpline: 08088 010 818
Culturally Specific Services:
- Jewish Women’s Aid:
Offers confidential support to Jewish women aged 16+ nationally who have experienced relationship abuse and sexual violence.
Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 801 0500
Sexual Violence Helpline: 0808 801 0656
Webchat: jwa.org.uk/webchat
Website: jwa.org.uk/contact-us
- Stay alert and aware of your surroundings
- Think about getting a personal safety alarm. Keep it in an easily accessible place and carry it in your hand if you feel at risk. It can be used to momentarily distract an attacker giving you vital seconds to escape
- Seek help in your Halls of your Residence – your porter or warden
- If you are out at night, try to stick to busy streets and near other people. Avoid danger spots such as poorly-lit areas, deserted parks, or quiet alleyways
- Ask if there are any areas near your halls that should be avoided. Some short-cuts may be great during the day but have a reputation amongst other students for being unsafe at night.
- On most smartphones, the unlock screen will include an emergency call button without the need to unlock the device. On some, pressing the on button and a volume key can also bring up a shortcut to 999
- Emergency contacts can be set up via the iPhone health app - and the people you choose will be notified if an emergency call is made
- Google's safety app, available on its Pixel handsets, has a similar function
- Samsung's emergency mode is designed to prolong battery life while keeping the phone on standby. It limits features and the home screen is displayed as black but it enables emergency calls, calls to an emergency contact, and location-sharing within a message using minimal power
- WhatsApp users can choose a contact, hit the attachment button to the right of the text box and select "location" - this will share the location of the device, only with the person they are messaging, for a certain period of time, ranging from 15 minutes to eight hours
- On an Android phone, if the emergency location service is switched on (it's within settings, under the location tab), the device will automatically share its location with the emergency services during a call
- An iPhone will automatically ping its location once the emergency call is finished, but this can be cancelled by the phone owner
- Personal protection app, Hollie Guard, asks you to enter details of your route and sends alerts to chosen contacts when you arrive at your destination safely. If a location is not reached within your set time parameters emergency contacts are notified
- If you sense danger, you can shake your phone or press a button to send your whereabouts to certain contacts. The app will emit a loud alarm and record video and sounds in the hopes of warding off strangers
- 'what3words' is a geocode system that provides an easy way of pinpointing your location. The mobile app has divided the globe into 3m x 3m squares and given each one a unique 3-word address by using a total of 40,000 words in different combinations
- People can access their current three-word address online or offline, which is ideal if someone is lost in a remote location with little mobile service. The 3-word address can be used by the control room to identify your location and send help where it is needed
The safety, security and wellbeing of Jewish students is one of UJS' top priorities.
One of the ways we work to achieve this is by working with the Community Security Trust (CST), an organisation that protects the Jewish community. With 55 full-time staff and 3,000 volunteers, CST provides physical security and advice to the community, regardless of religious or political affiliation. CST works together in partnership with UJS both on a national and a campus level, with student CST volunteers liaising with individual Jewish societies and providing advice and security where necessary.
CST is able to provide support and security because of the effort of its members, who give their time to help protect their community. CST not only provides training for its volunteers, but also for J-Soc committees, campaigns and the Jewish student body in general.
Antisemitism is not something that everyone will see or experience at university and definitely not something which should define one’s time whilst studying. However, it can be present. UJS and CST work to counter the effects of this hatred, with universities, the police and the government. Together with one of the UK’s top lawyers, Anthony Julius, UJS and CST have developed A Student’s Guide to Antisemitism on Campus, a handbook to aid students in how to tackle and report antisemitism in all of its forms. This book goes out to students across the country at the beginning of each academic year.
CST also trains students of all beliefs and backgrounds to become Student Security Officers for their campuses. Countless J-Soc events, from Friday night dinners to J-Soc Balls, are kept safe by these volunteers. Find out more about the Student Security Officer Programme here.
Streetwise tips for campus life:
One of the ways we work to achieve this is by working with the Community Security Trust (CST), an organisation that protects the Jewish community. With 55 full-time staff and 3,000 volunteers, CST provides physical security and advice to the community, regardless of religious or political affiliation. CST works together in partnership with UJS both on a national and a campus level, with student CST volunteers liaising with individual Jewish societies and providing advice and security where necessary.
CST is able to provide support and security because of the effort of its members, who give their time to help protect their community. CST not only provides training for its volunteers, but also for J-Soc committees, campaigns and the Jewish student body in general.
Antisemitism is not something that everyone will see or experience at university and definitely not something which should define one’s time whilst studying. However, it can be present. UJS and CST work to counter the effects of this hatred, with universities, the police and the government. Together with one of the UK’s top lawyers, Anthony Julius, UJS and CST have developed A Student’s Guide to Antisemitism on Campus, a handbook to aid students in how to tackle and report antisemitism in all of its forms. This book goes out to students across the country at the beginning of each academic year.
CST also trains students of all beliefs and backgrounds to become Student Security Officers for their campuses. Countless J-Soc events, from Friday night dinners to J-Soc Balls, are kept safe by these volunteers. Find out more about the Student Security Officer Programme here.
Streetwise tips for campus life:
- Lock away your valuables when you are out of the house
- Don’t leave your drinks unattended
- For safety, travel in numbers at night
- Prevent tailgating - shut doors so that people can't follow you into your accommodation, J-Soc activities and locations or elsewhere
- Be alert for suspicious people and activities. This includes parked cars and unattended items near communal buildings and Jewish neighbourhoods (as well as the wider city).
- Report any antisemitic incident to CST on their 24 hour national emergency number: 020 8457 9999.
- Try to plan ahead. Make sure someone knows where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to return
- Always plan how you are going to get home again
- Don’t leave your drink unattended, and if you start to feel unwell seek assistance from venue staff
- When out with friends, look out for each other and consider travelling back together, or “checking in” when you each arrive home safely
Taxi
Train and Buses
- Share information about your journey and the vehicle you’re using with someone you trust
- Ask the driver to show you their badge before you start your journey
- Trust your instincts – if you feel worried or threatened, ask the driver to stop in a busy area so you can get out
- You can report any concerns about taxis or private hire vehicles to the police and your local licensing authority
Train and Buses
- Stand in a well-lit place near other people
- Someone bothering you? Tell the guard or driver - you can stay with them if you continue to feel uncomfortable.
- Trust your instinct.
- Call British transport police on 61016 to seek assistance or report incidents on the rail network