The clocks have gone back and the dark nights are drawing in for the winter. With Bonfire Night around the corner, we want to remind our students to think about and look after their personal safety.
Here are some general top tips to follow:
- Stick to well-lit areas when walking around campus and beyond, and use our best-lit streets campus map
- always be aware of your surroundings
- walk in groups wherever possible
- avoid having expensive items on show
- save the DMU security team’s number, 0116 2577642, into your phone (you can ring them if you feel anxious about something on or near Campus at any time - they are available 24/7).
Students can meet at the Campus Centre steps at 6pm to walk as a group to the Abbey Park Bonfire and Firework Display on Saturday 2 November with De Montfort Students' Union.
Fireworks season
Leicestershire Police are also reminding students to be safe and sensible during the firework season. They want everyone to be aware of the legal penalties for anti-social and criminal behaviour involving fireworks:
- To throw, cast or fire any firework in or into any highway, street, thoroughfare or public space including firing or throwing from a private place into a public place, street or highway is an illegal offence.
- It is also a criminal offense to discharge any firearm or firework, without lawful authority or excuse within 50 feet of the centre of a highway which consists of or compromises a carriageway.
Anyone caught breaking these laws will be arrested and prosecuted. Penalties will include a maximum fine of £5,000 or six months in prison, or both for firework misuse. If caught, universities will be informed and necessary internal penalties will also be taken.
If anyone has any questions or concerns or sees anyone breaking these laws during the season please call 999 in an emergency or 101 in non-emergency. Alternatively, you can contact PC Sam Burton or PC Oliver Cordier, DMU’s Campus Police Officers on Twitter at @DMUCops.
Posted on Friday 1 November 2019