Lincolnshire Police is working with students to help keep them safe

Lincolnshire Police are working with partners to give students the information they need to stay safe and keep their property secure.

Students from across the UK are descending on our county this week to begin their journey in higher education.

We wish them academic success and hope they enjoy the sights and sounds of Lincolnshire – but we want to make sure they’re equipped with the information they need to stay out of harm’s way.

Meeting new people, forging new relationships, and living with new friends is part and parcel of the student experience.

And while this time should be savoured, it’s important people are aware of the risks they face so they can take the necessary steps to protect themselves.

We’re working closely with our partners in education to provide helpful advice and ensure students know Lincolnshire Police is here to help them should they ever need us.

We will be providing information around consent, the StreetSafe app/website and the campaign ‘You’re right, that’s wrong’ over the Freshers’ Week period.

Additionally, we will be offering tips to combat burglary, so students know how to secure their belongings.

This will be presented in the form of posters, videos and more.

PC Mark Wrigley, University of Lincoln Police Officer, said: “Higher education students make up a large part of Lincoln’s population and it’s really important that we engage with them.

“We have been working in partnership with the university for some time now and it’s been a really strong and positive collaboration.

“Over the course of Freshers’ Week we’ll be talking about safety, awareness of your surroundings, burglary, drug awareness and more.”

Julie Spencer, Head of Student Wellbeing/ Deputy Director of Student Services, said: “"The University of Lincoln enjoys an excellent relationship with Lincolnshire Police.

“We work collaboratively to support our students, so they feel safe, both on campus and within the city.

“Lincoln is held up nationally as an example of best practice due to a number of successful projects that have, in the first instance reassured our community, and supported them whenever they needed it."

 

Do you #GetConsent?

The #GetConsent campaign is in partnership with Rape Crisis, Victim Support, Spring Lodge, the University of Lincoln and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). 

We aim to engage on the importance of being 100% clear on consent and the need for each person to have freedom and capacity to agree to sexual activity. 

For more information visit - https://www.lincs.police.uk/police-forces/lincolnshire-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/do-you-get-consent/

 

StreetSafe: tell us where you don't feel safe

StreetSafe is a national service for anyone to anonymously tell us about public places where they have felt unsafe and the reason for it, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings, vandalism, being followed or verbally abused.

It’s part of the government’s agenda to tackle violence against women and girls, although it’s open to anyone to use.

Previously, people were required to go on the website, but now there is an app to download too.

For more information visit - https://www.lincs.police.uk/news/lincolnshire/news/2022/may-2022/streetsafe/

 

You're right, that's wrong

The ‘You’re right, that’s wrong’ campaign calls on men to act when they see or hear public place harassment towards women or misogynistic attitudes.

One of the most powerful ways to change someone’s behaviour is through their own friendship groups. So the campaign asks men to consider when a friend’s actions cross the line.  Whether it’s catcalling, not leaving a woman alone when she’s said no, or making disrespectful jokes; these behaviours cause real harm. Left unchallenged, the behaviour and situation can escalate.

For more information visit - https://www.lincs.police.uk/news/lincolnshire/news/2023/mar-2023/youre-right-thats-wrong/

 

Beating burglary together: keep yourself and your property safe

Through this initiative, we aim to enlist the support of the people of Lincolnshire in “beating burglary together”. We know that areas with a high student population can be at greater risk of burglary, so students are a focus for the campaign.

Our aim is to enhance trust and confidence in our service and build a more informed understanding of who is at risk of burglary and what can be done to reduce that risk. For students, this means providing advice to lock it, mark it, keep it, with information on crime prevention and registering property using Immobilise. 

For more information about our burglary campaign, visit - https://www.lincs.police.uk/news/lincolnshire/news/2023/jun-2023/beating-burglary-together-campaign-launch/

 

Hollie Guard

Hollie Guard is a free personal safety app for your phone. If you ever feel threatened, you can send out an alert via the app, letting your nominated contacts know your location. Download the Hollie Guard app: bit.ly/3U05MRs

Find out more here - Hollie Guard - YouTube

 

Additional information around student safety can be found here - Student safety | Lincolnshire Police (lincs.police.uk) and here - Sexual Harassment - YouTube