Safety

Leeds is a great place to live and study. It's important to be prepared and take simple steps to stay safe and to know what to do if you're a victim of crime.

To feel at home in a new city, we need to feel safe. Depending on where you have come from, you may feel that the streets in Leeds are not very busy in the evening and that can make you feel unsafe. That’s a normal response to being in an unfamiliar environment, but as you get to know the city you’ll feel more at home and you’ll feel safer. Like in any big city it’s important to take precautions, but don’t let safety worries stop you from making the most of your time here.

The University, Students’ Union and local Police work together to keep students safe. If you have any questions about safety or crime, we’re here to help you. We've put together some advice on keeping safe. For advice about safety and coronavirus, visit the University’s coronavirus website.

Staying safe

Protect yourself

  • Use well-lit busy streets when walking at night.
  • Stay vigilant when using your mobile phone, and keep valuable items hidden, especially at night.
  • Use transport at night, you could:
  • When you are socialising, don't leave your drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.
  • If you drink alcohol take safety precautions such as drinking water or soft drinks between your alcoholic drinks.
  • Check your accommodation has working smoke alarms and a current gas certificate (more information is available from the Leeds University Union).

Protect your possessions

  • Ensure windows and doors are always locked, especially when you’re not at home.
  • Keep your valuables out of sight.
  • Keep your bag, phone, laptop etc with you at all times.
  • Register your possessions with Immobilise so that the Police can return any stolen items, if found.

Protect your identity

  • Shred documents with personal details.
  • Keep PINs safe.
  • Don't respond to fake or scam emails asking for your personal details.
  • If you’re an international student, find out how to protect yourself from fraud.

Emergencies

If you have an emergency on or off campus call: 
Police, Fire, Ambulance and Coast Guard: 999

If the emergency is on campus you should also contact:
The University Security Service: 0113 343 2222

Emergency SMS service enables deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK to send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service. 

The Police

The Police’s role includes:

  • receiving crime reports
  • receiving lost property reports
  • giving crime prevention advice
  • patrolling the city
  • investigating crimes
  • responding to emergencies.

Reporting crime

If you're a victim of crime it's important to report it, even if it seems minor. Student Advice in Leeds University Union can help you, and give you more information and support.

By phone
You can report a crime in a non-emergency situation to the police by calling 101. In an emergency call 999.
Remember to save important phone numbers into your phone’s contacts library in case you need them.

Online
In a non-emergency situation, you can report a crime online or talk to the police using the 101 Live Chat system.

In person
To report a crime in person you can visit the police station responsible for the area where the crime was committed. Call 101 beforehand to check which police station you should visit. Please note that because of the ongoing situation surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19), you should only attend a helpdesk in person when absolutely necessary. 

There are police stations in Leeds, including:

Leeds Central Police Station
Park Street, Leeds, LS1 3BY
8am - 10pm - 7 days a week
Disabled access to front enquiry desk
Tel: 101
 

Crime and safety resources

More information about crime and safety is available from:

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