► Safety
General Safety
Safety is a prime concern for everyone, or it should be! People coming to Bradford may have never lived in a city before and could find it a little intimidating. Bradford is certainly no less safe than other cities in the UK. The precautions that you need to take in Bradford are the same precautions that you should take in any city. Being a student , however, makes you a prime target group: 1 in 3 students becomes the victim of a crime each year, yet research shows that students are less worried about being victims of crime than general members of the public. Student drug and alcohol abusers are even more likely to be victims. Follow the safety tips we have gathered together to make it less likely that YOU will fall victim to crime.
Harassment
Harassment can surface in all areas of student life. It appears in various forms and can mean different things to different people, but basically any behaviour which is intimidating or upsetting to another person, be it intentional or not, is classed as harassment. Specific examples include bullying, racial, personal or sexual harassment (for both men and women), all of which can be equally distressing, and can have far reaching effects on someone's studies, social life, and home life.
Harassment is about one person's abuse of power over another and about feeling pressure to comply with unwanted behaviour. The behaviour can take the form of a single explicit incident or a pattern of actions and/or words. Although these experiences are extremely upsetting and undermining, we often do nothing about them because we don't know what to do and partly because we are made to see this as normal behaviour.
Both the University of Bradford and the Students' Union now have a comprehensive equal opportunities policy, and there exists a harassment disciplinary procedure. If you feel that you have been discriminated against, or have been harassed because of your gender, age, race, colour, nationality, disability or sexuality or anything else then tell someone on the personal harassment contact persons list. More information on the University's policy can be found at http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/personnel/Harassmentpolicy.htm
If you suffer harassment while in the area of Bradford surrounding the university, then head for one of the designated Student Safe Spot businesses (see the section below).
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is an emotive term that is easily misunderstood and is hard to define. This is due to the differences in what individuals see as acceptable or unacceptable behaviour. It means many different things to many people. Some will accept it as a natural part of interaction; others may trivialise it or dent its existence. However, it is a very personal thing and depends very much on how the recipient feels as a result of it.
Sexual harassment is a very stressful experience and can have serious physical and mental effects, undermining the recipient's self-confidence and perhaps causing them to become withdrawn and isolated. The stress caused by sexual harassment can result in physical illness and depression.
Reporting Harassment
Many people are deterred from reporting harassment because they feel that they won't be believed or won't be taken seriously; they fear reprisals, or simply don't know who to talk to. However, all harassment cases are taken seriously & no problem is perceived as too small. Even if all you want is a chat about what is happening, please feel free to visit in confidence and speak to one of our advisors, the Women's Liberation Officer, or the Ethics, Environment and Welfare Officer. You can usually choose whether you speak to a male or a female. We can also help you speak to the police if you do not wish to contact them yourself.
Student Safe Spot
Student Safe Spot is a scheme specifically designed to help students feel safer while out and about near the university. It was set up by City Centre Beat, a partnership which aims to reduce crime in Bradford, as well as the Students' Union, Bradford College, Bradford Council, and West Yorkshire Police. If a student feels threatened whilst around Bradford, they can go to one of the pubs, clubs, shops or other businesses designated a student safe spot, as shown by the sticker displayed in their window. There, students can wait around for the problem to pass, call a taxi to take them home, or get help from the business or the police. For more information, and a list of member businesses, go to http://www.citycentrebeat.co.uk/safespot/. To view and/or download a map showing you where the Safe Spot businesses are located, click here (please note that the network may be subject to changes) ubuonline.co.uk/files/Safe_Spot_Wallchart.pdf.
UBUS - The Student Union Safety Bus
For information on the UBUS, please click here.
Attack Alarms
These are available for free from the Union. It's a good idea to carry one with you just as a precaution. They're tiny and discreet (until activated!) and may come in useful one day. All we ask is that you carry it and only use it when necessary.
The alarms make a very loud and unpleasant noise, which is designed to both discourage the attacker when you are being attacked, and to attract the attention of people in the vicinity. Please do not use them in vain - we take no responsibility if your hall-mates strangle you if you sound them for the umpteenth time to demonstrate just how unpleasant the sound is.
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Safety at Home
Many of you will be living in Halls and if not, you will be in private residence of some sort. Either way, you should always be aware of your property. In Halls especially, opportunist thieves will take advantage of people leaving their doors open just for a couple of minutes while they pop down the corridor. If you want to save yourself a lot of trouble then get in to the habit of keeping your doors locked at all times.
Before leaving the house (or going to bed), it is worth checking that all doors/windows are locked - don't rely on somebody else to do that. Remind your housemates to do the same if they go to bed later than you. Same goes for gas cookers. And it's always worth getting insurance just in case!
For more info, browse the Unipol website on http://www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk/bradford/
How To Report An Incident
If you have witnessed or been subject to any kind of harassment or attack - don't suffer in silence - report it so something can be done. There are a variety of ways in which you can report an incident. You can do this anonymously if you wish but obviously if you are willing to discuss the incident with the police then more can be done to catch offenders and stop repeat incidents. Even if you just wish to discuss an incident with the Advice Centre, you can do so freely. We will not disclose any details without your permission unless you or another person is in immediate danger – and we will still try to get your permission in that case. If you do decide to pass information to the police, we can help you with this. Likewise, you can also email us at ubu-advice@Bradford.ac.uk whether it is to give us information to pass on to the police, or just to share your experience.
West Yorkshire Police: Always call 999 in an emergency. However, in a non-emergency there are a variety of options you can choose to report incidents. Email ganpt1@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, call 08456060606 or 01274 376625, use the online contact form form at http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt/Contact.asp or call Crimestoppers for free, completely anonymously, on 0800555111.
Securitext: The Union and the University bring this to you in partnership. If you feel unsafe on campus, send a text to 07909792405. University Security will then take action where and when required. Alternatively, call them on 01274 236999.
You can also talk face-to-face, on the phone or via email to the campus Police Officer, Susan Mitchell. She is be available Wednesdays 1 - 3pm in Horton Building, Room D0.19 Or contact her any other time at E-mail: susan.mitchell@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or mob: 07595 005 640
You do not have to provide PC Mitchell with any of your or anybody else’s personal details if you do not wish to do so.
Fire Safety
Private housing does not always live up to the standards it should meet, one of those being a smoke detector. Having a smoke detector is so crucial - it could save you life. If you can't get your landlord to do it for some reason, even though they should, then come to the Students' Union reception and ask for one. If you have equipment provided by your landlord, do not tamper with it – it may save your life one day. Also avoid propping open your bedroom door, and don’t block escape routes.
By law, if you share a property with 2 or more people, you should have provided:
- Adequate fire precautions and means of escape from a potential fire e.g. automatic door closers on all internal doors apart from the bathroom. The doors should be tight fitting with strips bordering the edge. If there are locks on the bedroom doors, you should not have a keyhole inside the room.
- The front door lock should have no keyhole on the inside (same reason).
- An automatic fire/smoke detector i.e. smoke detector ‘heads’ in the hall, on the landing and in all rooms apart from the bathroom.
- Safe electrical installations which don’t put you at any risk of fire.
Upholstery & equipment which meets fire safety standards. You should be able to tell by labels on sofas etc, and by seeing a copy of an electrical safety test certificate for electrical equipment.
- A system of emergency lighting.
- Adequate fire fighting equipment i.e. a fire blanket and fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
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Stolen or Lost Phones
To report a stolen or lost mobile phone, call your network operator. You should always note the Serial/IMEI number of your mobile somewhere safe. This 15-digit number is either behind the battery of your phone or will be displayed after keying in *#06#. When reporting a phone stolen, the police can use this number to block it from working.
Network Operator
Orange Contract 07973 100 150 Pre-Pay 07973 100 450
Vodafone Contract 08700 700 191Pre-Pay 08700 776 655
O2 Contract 0870 241 0202 Pre-Pay 08705 678 678
T-Mobile (all tariffs) 0845 412 5000
Virgin Mobile (all tariffs) 0845 6000 789
3 (all tariffs) 08707 330 333
Stolen or Lost Credit/Bank Cards
It is important to contact your card provider as soon as possible if you think your card has been stolen or lost. The card will be cancelled and a replacement sent out (this will take a few days but you can still draw out money by visiting your local branch). Even if you are not sure if your card is lost or stolen or just temporarily missing, it is always best to be on the safe side. Don’t panic, as usually you will be able to recover any money that has been spent by somebody else as long as you report the card missing straight away.
Barclaycard 1604 230 230
HSBC 0800 0151 924
Lloyds TSB 0800 096 9779
NatWest 0870 600 0459
Yorkshire Bank 08705 168654
Cooperative Bank 0845 600 6000
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Drink Spiking
‘Drink spiking’ is when a substance is added to someone's drink without his or her knowledge. Sometimes this can be for a laugh, and be extra alcohol (which can still be very dangerous e.g. if someone planned to drive home after one drink), or can be malicious in intent and be ‘date rape’ drugs like GHB or Rohypnol, which in a short time can render the victim helpless and out of control, having potential short term and long terms health implications as well as putting them in severe danger. It is a rare but ever increasing occurrence, and Bradford isn't immune. Make sure that you keep you drink with you at all times – don’t leave it unattended while you are dancing. You should avoid leaving it with a friend unless you trust them 100%. It’s also worth remembering that it is harder for people to slip substances into a bottle than into a glass. Remember that men's drinks can get spiked as well as women’s. If you have forgotten and left your drink somewhere unattended for a while, be safe and get another one; it is not worth the risk. If you feel very drunk or unwell and suspect your drink may have been spiked, go to a safe place as soon as possible and ask friends to take care of you.
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