Cambridge is a fantastic place to go to university, but safe as the college system may feel, it is not immune to crime. It is still important to take good care of yourself and your possessions, to ensure that you don’t become one of the 33% of university students who become a victim of crime.

Recently, there have been several sex attacks on women in the area around Queens’.

This is a reminder that it is not safe to walk around Cambridge alone at night – make sure that when you’re returning from nights out in the dark, you are accompanied. The Cambridge sex attacker has still not been caught, and there are several lonely and badly lit areas around college.

Walking alone in the dark means putting yourself at significant risk.

If you have to make a journey unaccompanied at night, always call in at the porters lodge before you leave, and if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation in town, you can always turn to another college’s porters for help. If you need a taxi at any point, just contact the porters lodge and the cost can be settled later.

In Freshers’ week, all female students will receive a free personal alarm. Remember to carry it with you – it will not make walking alone at night safe, but could make all the difference.

Theft, criminal damage and burglary account for 70% of crimes against students, what with most student rooms containing either a laptop, mp3 player, mobile phone or digital camera (if not all of the above), it’s easy to see why they are prime targets!

If you have been affected by crime, help is always available. Take a look at the CUSU page on how to report a crime to the police for more details. Alternatively, you can always call Crimestoppers on 0800555111. This is an anonymous service, so no-one will ever know that you made the call, you will not have to make a statement, and you will not have to appear in court.

For more information about how to keep yourself and your possessions safe whilst at university, check out the student safety page by CUSU; it has details on everything from insuring your possessions and locking up your bike, to reporting crimes and victim support.

If you believe a crime to have taken place within college, the best place to go is always the Porters’ Lodge. The porters will call the police if needed, and can make sure that any necessary gates are opened to allow access for emergency vehicles.