Dear everyone,

Recently two residents of Owlstone Croft have been assaulted on their
way home, one of them severely (paramedics had to be called).

In light of these two very unfortunate occurrences, we should take a
moment to remind ourselves about the measures we can take for our own
personal safety in Cambridge. Each academic year in Cambridge 1 in 3
students becomes a victim of crime.

Things can be bad during the summer, too, when a lot of vulnerable
(and often very out of it) tourists suggest to would-be-criminals that
the city is full of easy targets.

The Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU) has a good and
informative page about student safety:
http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/welfare/safety
I would particularly recommend their page on ‘getting home’ safely
after a night out:
http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/welfare/safety/gettinghome.html

A couple of points I’d like to add:

-Do not walk alone at night!
-Plan ahead about safe routes – as CUSU writes, ‘Don’t wait until
you’re half way across Jesus Green at three in the morning to think
about it!’
-Speaking of Jesus Green at 3 am — never walk alone through a park at night.
This means avoiding Lammas Land (near Owlstone), Parker’s Piece, Jesus
Green, etc. I would DEFINITELY avoid the path from ‘Beer Island’ (the
patch of land on the Cam across from Queens’ and near the pub The
Mill) to Bella Italia on Newnham Road, and from there over to
Lensfield Road. This area has no lighting and attracts some unsavoury
characters, especially at night.
-If you’re going to be out alone at night, I’d recommend biking (WITH
LIGHTS AND HELMET!). You’re less likely to get mugged on a moving
bike.
-Do not walk and talk on your mobile when alone at night. It sounds
counter-intuitive, but this actually increases your chances of being
assaulted/mugged.
-Use a torch (flashlight).

***I know it sounds really stupid to mention this, but if you’re out
late at night and are desperate for the toilet DO NOT go in the river!
In 2006-7 a student died when he fell into the river doing just this,
and I personally know two people who have also fallen in when they
were drunk and bursting (these two fortunately lived to tell the tale
– though one got violently sick from swallowing river water!).***

Everyone should put at least one taxi company phone number in your
mobile phone NOW (here are a couple):

Panther Taxis
Tel: 01223 715715
Web: www.panthertaxis.co.uk

A1 Taxis
Tel: 01223 525555

To report an incident of what is called ‘aggressive begging’ by a
homeless person (or the Queens’ Alumni Office — ha, ha, just kidding)
call Parkside Police Station on 01223 358966.

It’s not a bad idea to carry some sort of whistle (a ‘rape whistle’)
and keep it handy.
Personal alarms – for both men and women – are also available for
£2.00 from CUSU. E-mail welfare@cusu.cam.ac.uk for more information.

***Remember that around here men are actually THREE times as likely as
women to get assaulted.***

If you have any further questions about issues of health or safety,
please feel free to contact me, our welfare officer Rogier (rcv25) or
our women’s officer Kate (cjm89) at any time. We truly are here to
help you, and are only on this committee because we care.

In an emergency, of course, call 999.

Yours in personal safety,
Johanna