Northamptonshire Police shares safety advice during Freshers’ Week
Officers are urging everyone to look out for each other, stay aware on nights out, and keep valuables secure.
As Freshers’ Week begins across Northamptonshire, police are reminding students to take care when out and about.
Northamptonshire Police is taking the opportunity to speak with new and returning students during Freshers’ week to offer advice on general personal safety, theft, burglary, cybercrime, and enjoying nights out safely.
The Force has a dedicated policing team based at the University of Northampton.
Officers from the team will be attending various Freshers’ events to engage with students and share details of how to get help and support, give out crime prevention information, and provide advice on spiking.
There will be increased police patrols across the night-time economy during Freshers’ week. Officers will be actively looking for suspicious activity, particularly targeting high footfall areas and crime hotspots to ensure everyone continues to be safe and can enjoy themselves in Northampton’s night spots.
Northamptonshire Police is supporting the Home Office campaign, Safer Streets Summer.
Op Kayak has remained fully active across the summer and works closely with pubs and clubs and with door staff, so that patrons remain safe, and any concerning behaviours can be quickly flagged and dealt with. The team also liaise with the street pastors, Northampton Guardians, and volunteers who work on the Safer Nights Out Van (SNO van), to ensure the vulnerable are looked after and safeguarded.
The SNO van is a customised minibus staffed by vetted volunteers in the centre of Northampton between 10pm and 5am every Friday and Saturday and will be in the Town Centre during the Freshers’ weekend.
They've given this advice:
- Be aware of what and how much you are drinking – your tolerance for alcohol varies according to a range of factors.
- Always look after your drinks. Don’t leave them unattended, don’t take drinks from strangers or pick up drinks at random – you have no way of knowing what’s in them.
- Stick with your friends – keep an eye on each other and have a plan for getting home safely.
- If you have any concerns about someone’s behaviour or wellbeing, report it immediately to venue staff or to police.