Personal safety event takes place on campus 

The event is designed to help everyone who comes along be better informed about how to keep themselves and others safe when they are out in the evenings, as well as to provide information on where to find help and support if needed.

Local organisations who work in the community to help people keep safe at night will be attending, including the Nightsafe Oxford Network , the Oxford Street Pastors and the Oxford City Angels.  These organisations work to help people in many ways, including providing portable power banks to recharge phones, taking people to a registered safe place, helping people get to their bus stop, the train station or home, or providing basic first aid. Oxford Street Pastors even provide flip flops as an alternative to high heels after a big night out.  

Having fun and staying safe

Event organiser Andrea Siret, Oxford Brookes Head of Community Engagement and Social Responsibility, said: “Oxford has a thriving night time scene – we want to help everyone to stay safe while they’re out and about in our vibrant city so we’re providing lots of advice and information to all our students and staff as well as welcoming in local residents to this event. We’ll be giving away some personal safety goodies to help people feel and be safe on a night out and people will also have the opportunity to meet Thames Valley Police officers who will be providing information on Project Vigilant to help identify and stop perpetrators of violence towards women and girls. We’ll also be explaining how the HollieGuard app works to alert emergency contacts if you find yourself in an emergency situation.”

Sharon Massingham of Thames Valley Police who heads up the Nightsafe Oxford initiative said: “We’re really pleased to have this opportunity to highlight how people can keep themselves and their friends safe when they’re out at night.  We want everyone to be able to enjoy themselves safely while they’re having fun. Our nightsafe Oxford Network works actively to bring together everyone working in the night time economy to share information through special briefings including bus drivers, taxi drivers, pubs, clubs and door supervisors as well as university security teams so that we can both prevent incidents and track down perpetrators swiftly.”

“An important part of the Nightsafe Oxford Network is the Safe Places scheme, where Network members with premises provide a place where people can get support in a safe environment. A range of businesses including city centre pubs, clubs and hotels have signed up to join the scheme. Safe Places are identified through the Safe Places logo on their windows, or through the Safe Places App which will allow people to find their nearest Safe Place from their current location.The Oxford Bus Company is also part of our Safe Places scheme.  Drivers can radio through to their control room for assistance if someone is in need of help.”