Security

There has been a recent escalation in the number of violent attacks and crimes reported to us within the Durham City area. These have taken the form of targetting people walking home from nights out, attacks on individual properties (vandalism etc…) and break-ins.

Durham is generally a very safe city, however this recent increase in the number of reported crimes is cause for serious concern. I urge you all to be particularly vigilant and take the following steps to ensure your safety:

• Do not walk home alone after dark – This applies to both men and women. The DSU has a Nightbus service which runs from 9pm – 1am Monday-Thursday & Sunday and from 9pm – 3am Friday and Saturday. They give priority to lone travellers. You can ring them to arrange a pick-up from a number of locations (see http://www.dsu.org.uk/pages/welfare/nightbus.html). The number is 07854 838890. If you have to walk home alone, please consider purchasing an attack alarm from the JCR Welfare Officer (Jill Chapman – cuthberts.welfare@durham.ac.uk) or from the DSU.
• Make sure you lock all the doors and windows in your house at night, even if you are in.
• If you have concerns about the security of your property, please get in touch with your landlord and put your concerns forward. If they take no action, please contact me and I can get in touch on your behalf. For more information on security, please consult the JCR Livers’ Out Handbook at http://www.dur.ac.uk/st-cuthberts.jcr/index.php/currentstudents/liversout/livers-out-handbook-2/
• If you ever feel threatened or intimidated in your home, please phone the police immediately on 999. If it is a minor incident (e.g. too much noise, low-level rowdiness), please contact University Security on 0191 334 2222
   
• If you are the victim of any kind of crime, please report it to the police in the first instance and then to myself (cuthberts.liversout@durham.ac.uk) and to the Senior Tutor (sharon.richardson@durham.ac.uk). It is extremely important that we are made aware of these sorts of issues so that we can try to avoid such incidents happening in the future. When reporting an incident, your confidentiality is always respected.
• Many people take it for granted that Durham is a completely safe area, and although I do not wish to scare-monger, if these sorts of incidents have become more common, then it is imperative that you take the right steps to ensure your own safety and the safety of others.