Safety and personal security

Staying safe on and off-campus

Safety and personal security

Our security team and on-site CCTV cameras ensure that our campuses are a safe space for students, staff and visitors.

At BU we take your safety and personal security very seriously and we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment in which you can live and study.

There’s a range of security policies and procedures in place to ensure your safety including:

24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
CCTV and other appropriate security systems
A dedicated police officer working in liaison with BU security personnel with the emphasis being on crime prevention and advice
BU has achieved the nationally recognised accreditation ‘Secured Environments’ in recognition of its commitment to staff and student safety.

You can also read the practical security and personal safety advice from the Bournemouth Campus Police.

Advice from Dorset Police

Bournemouth town centre has a vibrant and lively night-time economy, but please take simple steps to make sure you stay safe:

Stay with your friends on a night out – never walk home alone
Remember – the more alcohol you drink, the more vulnerable you become.

For more safety advice and tips please visit the Dorset Police website. 

Stay safe on campus

Late lectures

If you're attending uni in the evening there are regular buses to and from campus, which run past the last lecture finishing times, to ensure all students can travel safely. Check the UNIBUS, morebus and Yellow Buses websites for full details.

Parking restrictions on Talbot Campus are lifted after 4pm, so you are able to park for free if you need to attend campus in the evenings. At Lansdowne Campus, both Studland House and Bournemouth Gateway Building car parks are pay and display for students after 4pm.

Several buildings on both campuses are open later in the evening, you can check all of the building opening times on the website. Both Poole House, Talbot Campus, and Bournemouth Gateway Building, Lansdowne Campus, are open 24/7, with security staff available at the main receptions.

If you have any issues regarding safety you can contact [email protected] or call 01202 965001. If there is an emergency on campus please call 01202 962222.

Crime reporting

Should you find yourself a victim of crime please collect and complete a crime reporting form from your nearest reception.

All crimes must be reported to Dorset Police and a crime number obtained, this should be included on the crime reporting form. This number will be required in order to facilitate any assistance from the Police or by your insurance company should you wish to claim.

Forms for Talbot Campus should be returned to Poole House reception, and for Lansdowne Campus to Bournemouth Gateway Building reception.

These forms are then passed to our security team for processing, who will contact you directly.

We also have dedicated pages for specific incidents with detailed support and guidance, including reporting an accident or incident, hate crimes and sexual assault or harassment.

CCTV

BU Facilities Management will maintain the CCTV system to the standard of “Best Practice” in line with regulatory requirements. BU will only supply visual data to the Police if requested, in order to assist in the reduction and prevention of crime on campus and the immediate surrounding areas.

Due to data protection considerations, only the Police will be permitted to view relevant data.

Looking after your bike

Fire safety advice

It’s important to be aware of fire safety on campus. The following advice will tell you how to raise the fire alarm on discovering a fire, and what action you need to take when hearing the fire alarm:

If you discover a fire – sound the alarm using the nearest call point
Evacuate immediately if the fire alarm activates, closing doors behind you
Make sure you know the escape routes from areas you normally use
Do not use the lifts if the alarm is sounding
Always make your way to the Fire Assembly Point – don’t stay near the entrance doors
Do not go back into the building until authorised.

If you discover a fire on campus call BU reception on 01202 962222 from your mobile, or via landline on 222, who will then alert the fire service and direct them to where they need to go on campus.

Please note: Alert a member of BU staff as early as possible if you require extra assistance to exit a building in the case of emergency and are unable to follow the above fire evacuation procedure (e.g. due to impairments, disabilities or injuries, either on a temporary or permanent basis) - you will be supported to complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).

If you are hearing impaired familiarise yourself with the Deaf Messaging Service (DMS) facilities at BU.

General safety advice

Keeping your bank account safe

If you think that your bank account may have been misused you should report this to your bank or to the police. You can also let us know as we can provide support and advice. 

There are organised crime groups who may try to use frauds and scams to target international or UK students' bank accounts. The best way to keep your bank account safe is to remain vigilant and question anything that seems unusual. 

Please ensure that you:

Do not engage with suspicious activities
Are being cautious
Talk to your bank if you are concerned about activity linked to your bank account(s)
Are aware of the serious consequences of involvement in criminal activity.

International student advice

Read our advice about opening a bank account in the UK. We've put together some advice about scams targeting international students and the UKCISA website also has helpful information about fraud and scams.

For more information about keeping safe online visit our IT security pages.

Staying fire-safe in your accommodation

Take a walk along your fire escape route:

From where you regularly study to all floor fire exits (i.e. to the stairs or external exits if on the ground floor)
From fire exits on the floor you regularly study to the relevant external exit doors of the building (i.e. from the stairs to the exit used to leave the building)
A physical walk of route(s) to the location of the building’s Fire Assembly Point(s) (If not obvious from final fire exit).

Fire- and smoke-resisting doors are important in preventing the spread of fire and smoke:

Doors marked as ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’/‘Fire Door Keep Locked’ must be kept closed and NOT propped or wedged open under any circumstances
Where doors are marked ‘Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear’ then the door will release on activation of the fire alarm system and must not be obstructed.

Fire safety equipment:

Please do not tamper with, move or cover any fire equipment including extinguishers, smoke sensors and alarms
Tampering with, or removing, fire or health and safety equipment will attract a financial penalty, and under certain circumstances render residents liable to criminal prosecution
This includes unlawfully setting off alarms and extinguishers, and/or covering or tampering with smoke detectors.

Dorset Fire & Rescue Service provide more safety and security information specifically for students at university. Find out more on their website.

Find out more

Report an accident or incident

Please use our online form to report an accident, incident or near-miss.

Sexual assault and harassment

Find out about the support and advice available and how to report an incident if you, or someone you know, has been affected by sexual assault or harassment.

Hate crime or incident

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by a hate crime or incident find out what support and advice is available and how to report this.