Some Top Tips for Staying Safe on a Night Out

UniSNTIf you’re planning on enjoying a night out at one of Dorset’s town centres, such as Bournemouth, we want to make sure that you enjoy your night and stay safe.

The Universities’ Safer Neighbourhood Team would like to remind all students the importance of keeping yourselves and your friends safe whilst going out. Please remember to always think of your personal safety and avoid becoming a victim.

We would like to remind you of a few basic tips that will help you to stay safe and enjoy your nights out.

Please remember:

  • Make sure you stay with your friends, especially if they are drunk. Don’t leave them vulnerable and alone
  • Always plan how you’re getting home and ensure you keep money aside for a licensed taxi or bus
  • Never walk home alone and don’t go home with someone you barely know
  • Don’t drink to the extent that affects your judgement.

Visit our safety & personal security web pages or the Dorset Police website for further information.

Head of BU’s Cyber Security Unit interviewed on BBC Radio Solent

With Dorset Police commissioning online courses to help their officers investigate cyber crime and online fraud, Head of BU’s Cyber Security Unit Dr Christopher Richardson gave his thoughts to BBC Radio Solent.

Dr Richardson was interviewed on the Breakfast in Dorset show and told presenter Steve Harris that police force training at a local and national level was key.

“Training helps,” he said.  “It’s done across all the police forces and at a regional level as well. We are involved with the Regional Organised Crime Unit which is one of the agencies that are trying to tackle this problem.”

Highlighting some of the barriers towards fighting the crimes, Dr Richardson said:

“A vast majority of these crimes go unreported. The police are only touching the top of the iceberg when it comes to cyber-crime.

“The biggest problem, of course, is the individuals themselves. They need to be better aware of what’s going on when they are online. A lot of it is good cyber-hygiene; basic ideas like making sure you have an antivirus package on your system helps a lot.

“This will be reinforced by Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner  Martyn Underhill, who is sending leaflets about cyber crime to households across Dorset.”

Dr Richardson added: “If you get an email from someone you have never heard of before, and if you click on, it makes them very easy to get in your machine.

“Most of the crimes are very simple ideas of impersonation and basic fraud and have been around in society for hundreds of years.”

He added that the global nature of cyber crime made it more difficult to police.

“We are now connected to two to three billion people,” he said.

“So there is an escalation process within the police itself to tackle a problem that may be seen to be local, when in reality is on a more global scale.”

Find out more about BU’s Cyber Security Unit by visiting the website, Facebook page or following @bucybersecurity on Twitter.