Many of you have recently received the “Fire and Safety” talk that all Freshers are blessed with, and for those girls going into your second or third years, it’s a talk I’m sure you all remember. Although it does go on for longer than the short half hour that they promise, it does contain some information and advice that will honestly help you throughout your time at University in Manchester. This is especially so in these first few weeks where you’re in a new city, or perhaps even a new country, and you just need some confidence that you’re not alone. Here are just a few of the many tips to pick up on about staying safe in Manchester (all pretty self-explanatory), so listen up!
1) Buddy System. As pre-school as this sounds, having a “buddy” who knows where you are most of the time is actually incredibly helpful. I know the first few weeks are all about making friends and getting to know people who you may eventually trust to become a “buddy”. But quick decisions on this are useful in the first few weeks, as many of us will (and have done) have a few too many, and end up in the middle of Manchester with no idea where we are. So BUDDY UP and hand out your phone number, even if you’re going over to a friend’s house in the evening and it’s a casual case of telling a flatmate where you’re going. It’ll help, I promise.
2) To phone or not to phone? So this is something I’ve wondered about for a while; do I, or do I not, either be or pretend to be on the phone with someone if I’m walking home alone at night? Some people say no. Don’t attract the attention of someone who may want that pretty little iPhone that is in full view. And some people say yes, so as to deter any unwanted advances that may occur, giving you the confidence that whoever is on the other side of the phone knows what’s up if anything does happen. It’s completely up to you, but if I were walking about looking like a student who probably had a phone somewhere anyway, I’d just keep it out and risk the attention.
3) Stay in groups! This tip is for both men and women, as anyone alone whether you’re male or female, big or small, is a target. If you’re coming back from a night out, make sure you have at least one friend with you, even if you are getting a taxi home. Walking back from a friend’s house at dusk through one of the parks, or down a dimly lit alleyway, is something you should always aim to do with at least one friend.
4) Getting lock happy. We’ve all been there – rummaging around in our bags looking for those keys that always seem to disappear. And it may be so tempting to just let it go and leave your hall room/student house unlocked, but spend a few extra seconds searching as locking up around Manchester is so so crucial. Locking up when you leave your hall room may not seem so important with the extra security given by swipe card access, but it’s not too hard for someone to tailgate and end up in your room which was the one left unlocked! Hiding valuables away from plain sight will also deter the unwanted attention of a possible thief! We’ve all heard the stories, so locking up and keeping an eye on valuables is a tip worth listening to.
5) Handy little courses. My final tip is probably the most fun, and something you can do with friends! There are plenty of self-defence courses offered in Manchester, whether you’re looking at the Systematic Wing Tsun Society that offers self-defence, or the cheaper option of free self-defence classes. You don’t have to go all out and attend classes all year, but getting some basic training on how to keep yourself safe can be both fun and extremely useful!
If you’re still feeling a little insecure, or you just want to learn some more about both personal safety and safety in Manchester, then there are a few places you can visit. The Greater Manchester Police run a useful Facebook page, offering tips, videos, and just general announcements regarding events around Manchester (https://www.facebook.com/mcrst…). And as a precaution, if something does go wrong and you need help, University Security are available on 0161 275 2728, the University police officer on 0161 275 7042, and in an EMERGENCY the Police, Fire, or Ambulance Services on 999.
(Photo credits to littlewhitelies.co.uk, City of Lino Lakes, Cosmopolitan Uk, anythinglefthanded.co.uk)