Safety on a night out
As students begin to settle into Bath, you may be starting to explore the city and the nightlife on and off campus more. We wanted to give you a rundown of how you can keep yourself safe on a night out and introduce all the campaigns and advice we offer at The SU and beyond.
River Safety – #GotYaBack
The city centre is surrounded by the River Avon. #GotYaBack was developed by students at Bath College to keep their friends safe after an increase in incidences in the River Avon. The ‘Got Ya Back’ message is, literally have your friends back! We all love having fun, it’s just about doing it safely.
Here are some top tips
- Know how you are getting home
- Make sure you swap phone numbers in case you get separated
- Have a place that you would meet up if that happened
- Install Safe Zone the University App
- Stick with your friends
- Never leave a drink unattended
- Avoid walking near the river, use lit and public paths and the SCP River Safety Map
- In an emergency, dial 999
- Install the what3words app on your phone, so you can communicate your location to emergency services if necessary
Use the SCP River Safety Map to follow the safest routes around the city
Safe Taxi Scheme
The SU has partnered with Veezu, a local taxi company, to offer you a safe journey home after a night out, without having to pay on the night! So if you find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe and haven't got the money to get home, we can help! Taxis will only be able to take you to a police station, hospital or student address. Find out how to access the scheme and how it works.
If you have concerns about the safety of yourself or a friend and are having difficulty utilising public transport then contact Security for advice (01225-385349 or Emergency – 01225-383999).
Support and Report
If you experience unwanted behaviour on a night out, you can tell the Support and Report Service.
This includes sexual harassment, harassment of any kind, discrimination, bullying and hate, but it can be anything that has impacted you. You can tell us about incidences that happen off campus, and even if the other person/people involved aren’t Bath students.
The Service will provide practical support and explain your reporting options. We can also support you in making a complaint to a nightclub or city venue or provide feedback to them on your behalf.
At each stage, you remain in control of what happens next.
#NeverOK
#NeverOK is a joint initiative run by the University and The SU, which aims to tackle all forms of harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct and discrimination.
If you see or experience something on a night out that isn’t right – tell someone. Speak to a member of staff or security at the venue. If the incident involves the venue staff, once you’re safe, you can tell the SU or University.
If you witness something and it is safe to do so, think about how you might be able to intervene to help. Speaking up can be hard. Book Active Bystander training or other #NeverOK training sessions for your student group or sports team.
The Student Community Partnership (SCP) is working with the SU and the University to take the #NeverOk message into city venues to make it safe for students to report any harassment issues in clubs and pubs with the confidence that they will have support to address issues, ie fear of being banned or not taken seriously. Look out for the #NeverOk posters to see which pubs and clubs are part of the scheme.
Drink Spiking
Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink or body without their consent or knowledge. People can also be a victim of ‘needle spiking’, which is injecting someone with drugs without their consent. Spiking in any form is a crime which can carry tough sentences, up to and including 10 years in prison.
To reduce the risk of drink spiking on a night out, here are our Top Tips.
- Keep your drink in hand at all times
- Request a Spikey or StopTopp when ordering if the venue stocks them
- Never accept drinks from strangers
- Avoid sharing or consuming leftover drinks
What to do if you think you have been spiked
If you suspect your drink has been spiked, seek help immediately from a friend or a member of staff at the venue. If possible, retain your drink, as it could serve as evidence for testing.
If you wake up the next day with concerns about a possible spiking incident, support is available. Options include reporting the incident to the Police and get support through the University via Support and Report or Student Support Advisor.
The Safe Bus
Bath BID launched their new Safe Bus project in the city in spring 2023. It provides a safe space for vulnerable people late at night who may benefit from someone to talk to, and get support, advice, first aid and have an opportunity to be listened to.
The Safe Bus runs every Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm to 4.30am and may be available for other busy nights such as Bank Holidays, Fresher’s Week, and other big events in the city of Bath.
The SAFE Bus can be found on Orange Grove More information can be found on the Bath BID Website – Bath Safe Bus.
Bath Bid Street Marshalls
As well as the Safe Bus Bath Bid have Street Marshalls in the city every Friday and Saturday night supporting venues with incidents associated within the night-time economy. You can find these wearing blue vests!
Bath City Pastors
You may also see Bath City Pastors out and about on Friday and Saturday nights. Bath City Pastors are volunteers from churches in and around Bath. They come from many different walks of life but share Christian Faith. Pastors will be wearing yellow high vis jackets! Bath City Pastors
Drugs & Alcohol
We're not experts in drug or alcohol support, so that's why we've partnered up with our friends from Developing Health and Independence (DHI) in Bath. Every Thursday experts from the DHI Team come up to campus to offer free and confidential advice, including free reagent testing kits, to anyone who wants to talk about drugs or alcohol. You can find them in the SU building between 13:00-14:30.
The SU also support the Set Your Own Volume
0% alcohol, 100% your choice. You can try a wide range of low and no alcohol products across campus in Fresh, Parade and the SU. Find out more about Set Your Own Volume
Student Community Partnership
The Student Community Partnership (or SCP) is a joint venture between the Higher Education Institutions in Bath and the B&NES Council to improve the relationship between long-term and student residents living in Bath – Our Shared City. The SCP is involved in campaigns for student safety, improving housing quality and sustainability. If you are experiencing any issues in the city, including with your neighbours, landlords, etc the SCP team can support you in resolving these or signpost you to sources of support.