Student Victimisation
Background
Each year 1 in 3 students becomes victims of crime (mostly burglary, robbery and theft). There are several factors that make students more vulnerable:
They are young. The British Crime Survey shows that 16-24 year-olds are three times as likely to be victims of burglary and five times as likely to be victims of violent crime, compared to the general population. |
Ownership of high value goods and living in multiple occupancy houses makes them an attractive target for burglars and other criminals. |
They often live in accommodation with less security and in poorer areas. |
They have low level of crime awareness and fear of crime. As a result, they do not take adequate precautions to protect themselves and their property. |
The Home Office has been working closely with a range of organisations to highlight the issues around student safety, and find ways to reduce their level of victimisation.
Activities includes:
Delivering a publicity campaign to raise awareness among students and their parents including:
Crime prevention advice on a dedicated student crime website (http://www.good2bsecure.co.uk/) with an interactive viral game, "Danny Timpson's Kebabathon", launched in January 2003, to reinforce crime prevention messages and draw students' to the website. This website ceased its operation in May 2006, see "Goodbye to the Good2bsecure website".
Additional publicity material (leaflets and posters) to reinforce the crime prevention messages.
Good2bsecure website re-launched in November 2003 along with a new viral game "Bargain Boost" and publicity campaign in eleven key areas - London, Manchester, Leeds, Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham - with a combined student population of over 500,000. This website ceased its operation in May 2006, see "Goodbye to the Good2bsecure website".
Investigating ways of improving security standards in student accommodation, e.g. through accreditation schemes for landlords.
Two conferences held in July 2003 for student, university, local police and local authority representatives to raise awareness, share good practice, build on the partnership approach and identify barriers to success. A further event is planned for 2004.
Last update: Last update: Tuesday, January 30, 2007