Safer Schools Advice & Guidance

Personal Safety:

• Look confident

You are less likely to be targeted if you look confident. Move with purpose and try to be aware of your surroundings.

· Know where you’re going

Plan your route and think about what to take with you, especially if you’re going somewhere you haven’t been before. Keep to busy, well-lit streets, walkways and paths which are more likely to be covered by CCTV. Only take licensed taxis or minicabs booked by phone or a mobile phone app.

· Keep your distance

When walking behind someone, particularly at night, try to leave a good amount of distance between yourself and the person ahead of you. Remember that the closer you are, the more threatening you might seem. 

· Cross the road

Somebody running up behind you, particularly at night, can be frightening.

If you’re out for an evening run, or walk, and see someone walking ahead, cross the road, call out to let them know you’re about to run by them or make sure to leave a good amount of space when you pass them.

· Keep comments to yourself

What you might think of as just a bit of fun, or flattery, can be insulting, upsetting or even scary to someone else. Keep any comments or opinions to yourself.

· Keep your friends in line

If you’re in a group of people where someone is harassing another person on the street, try to calm the situation. They may just need to be told that they’re behaving inappropriately.

Protect your mobile phones:

· Don’t leave your phone, iPad, tablet or camera unattended, out of your sight, or left on a table. Thieves can grab a phone from a table in seconds.

· Be aware of your surroundings and only use your mobile when it feels safe to.

· When you’ve finished using it, put it away.

· Secure your phone

Use your phone’s security features to stop someone using your phone if it’s stolen. Choose a strong PIN, passcode, password or pattern.

· Get your IMEI number

Get your phone’s IMEI number by typing *#06# on your phone keypad. Keep a note of it somewhere other than on your phone. The IMEI can help track the phone down if it’s lost or stolen.

· Use a tracking app

Set up a tracking app on your phone so you can see where it is from another device like a laptop. Use it as soon as possible, before thieves have a chance to disable it.