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University, Staying safe, University Security, Security Services

Going to university? Here’s how to stay safe

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Moving to university is one of the most exciting and biggest milestones in any young person life. With students being able to experience their own independence, making new friends and experiencing the most famous week of all Freshers week.

However, with the Coronavirus causing many university traditions to be vastly different from what they were before, there are aspects of university that will remain unchanged by the pandemic.

And one aspect of university that won’t change is security. Whether that’s securing your accommodation or looking after your own personal safety. As mentioned before, that’ll be the very first time that students have been able to live independently from their parents in either student accommodation or private rentals.  Living independently will certainly pave the way in learning and gaining life experiences but to aid students in this process and ensure they stay safe; we have a very handy guide for new and returning students.

Is your accommodation secure?

Whether you are in student accommodation or private housing, it’s important that where you are going to spend your time during university is secure and safe. Criminals see students as ‘Easy targets’ for burglary and theft. According to the office of national statistics, students are 7% more likely to be victims of theft than the rest of the population. Most student accommodation block will have their own security systems in place such as key card or fob entry systems. But if you are in private accommodation ensure that your property’s doors and windows have adequate locks on them and when you leave the property, ensure that all the windows and doors are securely locked.

Protect your possessions

Many students will agree that they cannot go without their phone, laptop, or other electronic goods and this can make them a profitable target to thieves. To ensure your valuables are kept safe from prying eyes, keep them out of sight and out of view of any doors and windows. If you’re living with multiple people you may want to lock your own room so no one can gain access.

If you are looking for a hiding place for your valuables don’t go for the obvious hiding places such as under your mattress or in the sock draw because they will be the first places that criminals will look. To ensure your valuables are kept safe think creatively. Hollowed out books or re-purposed food containers are great hiding places.

Consider personal belongings cover

Although your landlord will have home insurances for your home, it won’t cover your own valuables from theft or damage, so it is up to you to cover your own personal belongings. You can find insurance deals that are designed specifically for students and their valuables and can offer protection against theft and hazards such as fire or flooding. Although it is tempting to save yourself some extra cash by not taking this type of insurance out, it could save you thousands of pounds in the long run and will give you peace of mind.

Secure your bike

Having a bike is the quickest way of getting from A to B. But with many students using them and often aren’t being secured effectively, they present an easy target to criminals. To ensure you bike is covered, you can add it to your personal belongings cover that is previously mentioned above. However, if you are cycling to university, you should lock your bike at a bike shed and use a second lock to secure removable parts such as wheels. Most student accommodation blocks will also have a bike shed, but if you are in private accommodation then it is best that you bring your bike inside to prevent it being stolen under the cover of darkness. Also, to give you further peace of mind you can register your bike with the Bike Register, a national database used approved by the police force. This will help the police identify your bike and return it to you safely.

Keep your personal information safe.

Personal information can be just as valuable and profitable as physical valuables to it’s important that your personal information is secure. It can be devastating when fraudsters gain access to your bank account and steal thousands of pounds. To avoid your information being stolen, shred any paper that will contain such information (bank statements, insurances, gas, and electricity bills). To ensure your online data is safe, use anti-virus software on electronic devices such as your phone, tablet, and laptop, use strong passwords and avoid oversharing information on social media.

Ask for ID

By law students in rented accommodation are entitled to 24hour notice if the landlord wishes to enter or send someone to the property. Therefore, this allows you to be aware that someone outside of your home is coming to your property and allows you to act accordingly. And if you haven’t received notice of anyone coming to your property, you legally allowed to deny entry to your property (whether that is your landlord or a maintenance worker). If someone does try to gain access to your home, always ask for ID and try and contact your landlord for verification before letting them in. If you feel suspicious of them or don’t feel safe, say ‘No’.

If you need help, seek it

University is both an exciting time and a daunting time for students. While some will enjoy university life, for others leaving home and being separated from their parents, friends and family can be difficult and can have an impact on their mental wellbeing. For many universities, student mental health is a major priority for them, and they’ll often offer counselling services, workshops and courses for students who are struggling to adapt to university life, academic pressure, or mental health issues.

For more information on mental health wellbeing at university, take a look at students minds or the UK mental health charity Mind.

 

If you are in need of professional security solutions, contact us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details

Taxis and Private Hire vehicle, taxi, PHV, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Security, Personal Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services

Staying safe in Taxis and private hire vehicles

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Whether it’s travelling to the airport or getting home from a night out in Cardiff, Swansea or Newport, you will most likely hire a taxi. With private hire vehicles such as uber, it is easy to make bookings.

Since 2017 the number of taxis and private hire vehicles increased by 1.7% in England and Wales, which is quite a large increase, as it’s the highest since they were first recorded in 2005.

But like any industry, there is a downside, with crimes in recent years committed by drivers leading to a consultation launch on the taxi and private hire industry in the hope to implement stricter rules on licensing drivers to protect vulnerable people.

If you’re planning to travel by taxi or private hire vehicle, follow some simple tips on how to stay safe.

 

Wait near well-lit areas and CCTV cameras

In the UK, only a small group of licensing authorities require taxis and private hire vehicles to have CCTV installed (however this could change to all taxi’s and PHV’s to require CCTV) Until this new law is put into effect, waiting in Taxi ranks which have CCTV installed will allow people to trace where passengers are being picked up in an event of an emergency situation. Criminals are less likely to target passengers who will have evidence of them being attacked. Also standing in well-lit areas when it is dark will make you more visible to passers-by and to taxi’s/ PHV picking you up

 

Let someone know when you are travelling

Telling someone that you are on your way to meet them, or someone who you have just left will reassure people that you are safe. When travelling, make sure that your phone has enough charge and if it hasn’t, have a portable charger so that you will be able to get in touch with someone in an emergency.

 

Plan your journey

If you are travelling to somewhere that you are unfamiliar, it is best to plan your journey. Outlining your route will give you peace of mind that you will be travelling to your destination in good time and show others that you are safe. Try and familiarise yourself with the location in advance and keep relevant information at hand, including an emergency contact.

Have find my phone installed

Having apps such as Find my phone or find my device will help locate your smartphone if it is lost or stolen. Too often, many people who go on a night out will get into a taxi and realise that their phone is missing. In the UK 183 phones were stolen with the majority being iPhones. So, it may be a good idea to install these apps to trace your phone.

 

Be alert

If you are travelling alone, stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings. If you are on your own trying to travel back at night, hail a taxi in a well-lit area where there is plenty of people and traffic. No matter what, it is important that you are visible to plenty of people so there are witnesses who can help you in an emergency.

If you are in a taxi or a Private Hire Vehicles, check that the direction you’re going in is familiar to you. If it is not, check on maps on your smartphone that you are travelling in the right direction. If you feel that you are in danger, don’t hesitate to ask the driver to stop at the nearest opportunity – if they do not stop, stay calm and call 999.

 

A&R Security Services offer comprehensive security solutions to commercial properties in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our security solutions visit our website or to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950

 

Halloween, Trick or Treat, Cardiff,Newport, Swansea, RCT

How to stay safe this spooky Halloween

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Halloween is the best time of year for those who love everything spooky and want to let out their inner ghoul. For young children in and around Cardiff, it is a night where they can dress up and collect enough sweets to fill a whole sweet shop!

But even though Halloween is special to most, there is a much darker side. With the nights drawing in, children are twice as more likely to be hit by a moving vehicle and killed on Halloween than any other day.

Halloween is the busiest night of the year, especially for children – so steps need to be taken to ensure their safety and the festivities remain a happy memory.

So, here are some tips to keep your little ghouls safe:

Trick-or-Treaters

  • Plan your route – When searching for the best places for trick or treating, it can often take you many streets away from your home. So planning your route will ensure that you don’t get lost.
  • Stranger Danger – Any other time of the year, you wouldn’t knock on a stranger’s door and ask for treats. So, when knocking on a stranger’s door ensure that your children understand not to enter a stranger’s house.
  • Fire Resistant Costumes – Halloween Costumes can be a fire hazard; all it takes is your costume brushing up against a candle before it catches fire. Make sure when buying your children’s costume – they are fire-resistant.
  • Out of the Dark – in October the nights are long and dark, so it is likely that it’ll be dark when you are out trick or treating. When walking around make sure to light your way with a torch and to ensure that you are visible to other people and motorists.

Motorists

  • Pedestrians – In terms of people being out on the street Halloween is the busiest time of the year. Make sure to stay alert for children walking alongside main roads or in side streets.
  • If you don’t have to, don’t- if you can avoid driving at all, it will probably be safer to stay at home.
  • Drive Slow – Most residential areas in Cardiff and surrounding areas are 20-mph with speed bumps to ensure the speed is maintained. However, when driving ensure that you are driving below that on Halloween. This way if a small child walks or runs into the road, you can quickly stop your car.

Fire Safety

  • Decorations – with more and more of us decorating for Halloween, it is important to ensure that they don’t catch on fire. So, when decorating ensure that decorations are kept away from open flames such as candles.
  • Candles – Candles are great at making a spooky atmosphere, but they can also be a hazard. Try to use battery-operated ones to achieve the same effect or use glow sticks.
  • Smoke Alarms – many of use will be buying pumpkins to carve and to light ready for Halloween. However, pumpkins with open flamed candles inside them can be a potential fire risk. If you are planning to put candles inside of pumpkins this Halloween, ensure that your fire alarms are tested and fully working.

Here at A&R Security Services, we provide comprehensive security services to businesses in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend, and RCT. If you are in need of manned guarding or secure key holding services then get in touch with us on 01656 713950 or visit our website.

Staying safe at night, personal security, walking at night, staying safe while walking at night, walking alone at night, walking at night, A&R Security Services, A&R Security

Tips for staying safe while walking at night in Cardiff

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Whether it is after a night out with friends or coming home from work, many residences in Cardiff will find themselves walking alone at night. For some living in Cardiff, it is a regular occurrence – for others, it is a far less common thing. Either way, walking at night can be a daunting and slightly scary experience – especially if you are unfamiliar with the area.

To keep yourself safe and to make your night-time journeys a bit more bearable, here are some tips for staying safe while walking at night in Cardiff.

Keep your keys ready

If you’re walking home or to your car, hold your keys in your pocket. Select the one you need and keep it in the proper position so that when you get to your destination you don’t have to fumble for keys and get distracted.

Wear or carry appropriate shoes

A good set of heels can finish the perfect outfit, but they aren’t the most practical to walk in. If you are planning on walking home at some point during your night out and your journey home, try to wear shoes you’re comfortable walking in. If trainers aren’t a realistic option (they don’t fit in your handbag) stash a pair of lightweight pumps, before you go out.

Stick to well-lit areas

During the day it is easy to take shortcuts through side paths,  lanes and parks to get to your destination quicker. But these areas can change during the night and can become perfect places for someone to hide in the dark and attack. It may take longer than normal to get to your destination, but it is important to stick to well-lit areas and densely populated areas such as housing estates. Try to avoid walking through lanes, side paths, parks and open fields.  If you are forced to walk on the road – face traffic coming towards you, meaning both yourself and vehicles will see each other in the night.

Fake it until you get home.

Criminals will often target people who don’t look confident while walking home. If you are someone who feels nervous while walking, try to make yourself look confident, walk tall, take speedy strides and keep your eyes forward (don’t be afraid to make eye contact with those you pass). If you get lost or begin to start to feel panicked don’t change your gait, just head to a nearby store, restaurant or pub so that you can gather your bearings.

No headphones

A lot of us like to walk while listening to music to help calm our nerves (especially during the night) but wearing headphones affects your ability to detect sounds around you. To remain alert, keep your headphones out. This will help you avoid traffic and notice and respond to any unusual sounds.

Phone a friend

Call a friend or family member. If it is early in the night a pleasant chat with a loved one will calm your nerves and let people know where you are. Even if it is very late. If you are genuinely concerned, someone will be happy to take your call. Stay on the phone until you reach your destination and talk them through what is happening.

Worried? Head to a safe place

Even at night, you can use certain places to seek refuge. For example, many bars and pubs will have security officers positioned outside. If you’re worried and such a venue is nearby, walk toward it – the presence of trained security guards and member of the public will deter criminals from targeting you. Other safe places include corner shops and police stations. If you strongly believe that ones if following you, call the police.

A few other tips:

·         Mobile phones can double up as a torch

·         You can carry a whistle around your wrist or hand in case you need to raise an alarm.

·         Regardless of the cost, if you are tired, lost, drunk or distracted take a taxi home.

·         Don’t text or play games on your phone while you walk.

·         Leave valuables – such as Laptops or tablets – at home.

A&R Security Services offer night time manned and mobile security services in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend and RCT. If you would like to arrange a free quote call 01656 713950

Cardiff, Tourism, Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services, Tourist, Personal Security, Pickpocketing, Pickpocketers, Personal Security

Staying Safe in Cardiff – Tourist Guide

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Cardiff may be one of the youngest cities in the UK but it is a bustling metropolitan city steeped in Celtic history, boasting a medieval castle, a thriving creative arts scene and sporting stadiums that play host to top international sporting events.

With a population of 470,000, Cardiff sits in South Wales near neighbouring cities Newport and Swansea. As the largest city in Wales, Cardiff has the highest crime rate in the country with 4317 crimes reported in May 2019.

This presents tourists with a dilemma. Cardiff offers plenty of attractions – on the other hand, is visiting them worth the risk? The UK is generally a very safe place to visit, meaning that even with the most dangerous areas – the UK is a safe place to visit in global terms.

However, like any large city – there are certain things that you need to be aware of when visiting Cardiff.

So here are some tips and precautions for keeping yourself safe.

Try and avoid looking overly touristy- Criminals such as pickpocketers look for easy targets all the time and tourists come under that category. When walking around, make sure that you’re not standing to look at maps and that your camera or smartphone is in a bag out of sight and not dangling around your neck or sticking out of a pocket.

In crowded areas such as buses and trains keep your wallet or phone in front pockets (and place your hand on it) or keep your handbag or backpack closed and have it in front of you.

Don’t flaunt expensive belongings such as cameras, smartphones, jewellery or cash in public. Keep them safe in ether your front pockets or tuck them inside the pockets of your bag instead of the outside where they can be easily reached and stolen.

Be cautious around ATMs. When using an ATM make sure that there is nothing suspicious around the card reader or above the keypad or screen. When typing your pin make sure that it is shielded and when withdrawing cash make sure that you aren’t carrying too much cash around.

If you’re planning on going out at night, avoid walking and instead opt for public transport or a taxi. If you do have to walk, stick to well-lit areas.

If you are in need of directions or help, approach either a police officer or shop owner. Even though smartphones and tablets are great for downloading map directions, if these get stolen you might want to keep a physical copy of directions to places of safety.

Wearing expensive and designer clothes or accessories can make you a more likely target to criminals so opt for cheaper clothing and accessories when out and about.

Stay connected and up-to-date. Whether it’s using mobile data on your smartphone, hotel wifi or Wifi hotspots, keep up-to-date with what is happening in the city during your stay.

It’s good to read up on any protests or large events such as international Rugby matches occurring during your stay. Keeping up-to-date with current affairs/news stories in Cardiff will go a long way to you feeling safe travelling in and out of the city.

Take a portable charger with you and charge up your device enough so that you won’t run out of battery.

In Cardiff, around 43 cases of pickpocketing were reported to South Wales police in May 2019. To prevent yourself from being stolen from:

  • Prepare properly – whenever you have documentation with you, make sure that you have a copy in your hotel room and keep them separate from the originals.
  • Don’t carry valuables such as laptops and tablets. These are best left in your room inside a locker or safe.  If your room doesn’t have a locker or safe, keep them out of sight under clothing in either a suitcase or bag.
  • Secure your bag from pickpocketers. Pickpocketers will avoid creating a disturbance and it suits them better to separate you from your valuables quickly and efficiently. Making yourself an obstacle can put pickpocketers off. If you are sat outside a cafe or restaurant, loop a strap around your arm, leg or chair.
  • Consider using a money belt. A money belt is a fabric pouch on an elastic strap that fastens around your waist. They’re ideal for carrying documents, cash and personal identification and can be worn underneath clothing.
  • Stay vigilant when travelling. Pick Pocketers will try and confuse unsuspecting travellers. So be wary of arguments, fight or jostling occurs on public transport. Watch for crowds as these present targets and escape routes to thieves. When standing to leave public transport, be alert as this is the perfect time for a grab and run.

Tourist tips:

If you’re visiting from outside of the UK be aware that traffic drives on the left side of the road. When crossing busy roads use designated crossings and cross when the green man is shown. Also, be vigilant to look left and right before crossing any roads.

If you are planning to visit the many bars and restaurants in Cardiff, don’t accept drinks from strangers. Make sure that your bags and coats are safely under the table. If you are there with friends, check up on them by phone or text to make sure that they have gotten home safely.

Cardiff is host to many street food festivals and street food stallholders. If you decide to use one, make sure that they are displaying a vendors license on their cart.

A&R Security Services has over 40 years of experience in providing professional security solutions in Cardiff. We are professional in what we do and provide SIA trained guards and have a customer-orientated approach to each client. If you would like to find out more about our security solution get in touch with us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.