Security And Access#
The College management works hard to provide a very safe living and study environment for Members. Members themselves are encouraged to contribute to the safety of our community by taking sensible steps to protect themselves and others, both on College premises and when travelling around London and beyond.
London, like all large cities, is vulnerable to crime. Bloomsbury is generally a safe and friendly area of London but it is also the academic quarter and some thieves and troublemakers specifically target academic institutions and student halls of residence. Accordingly, Members should be alert to the possibility of theft and take good care of their possessions. Many thieves are professionals: they look like students and they are clever at gaining entry to College buildings.
It is also a painful fact that thefts may be carried out by Members of the College community, although this is rare.
Entry and Identification#
To access College buildings, including your room, you will require a ‘Goodcard’ identity card, which will be provided on arrival at the College. There are swipe access points at the main entrance doors to both LH and WGH and at other points such as lifts and staircase lobbies.Please ensure that you carry your card at all times to enable access. You can enter at any time of day or night.
Your Goodcard is also your College ID card. Please show it on entry to Reception staff. Always ensure that security doors are closed after you pass through - and do not hold them open for anyone not personally known to you as a College Member. (Please get to know your neighbours quickly, and don’t be shy asking people to identify themselves. The phrase “Can I help you?” is often useful when dealing with a stranger.)
Please report any loss of your Goodcard to Reception immediately in order that they can deactivate your card (to prevent anyone using it for access) and reissue you with a new one. There is a £10.00 charge for replacing lost or damaged cards.
Should you sublet your room (see section on Sublets) or host a visitor who arrives while you are out, a spare temporary card will be made for your room. Do not give your own card to anyone else or leave it in your pigeonhole.
Your Room#
Before you leave your accommodation, always make sure your door is properly closed, even if you will only be out for a few minutes, and fasten all lower ground and ground floor windows.
Do not leave valuable items in plain view in your room. Members are urged to store cash and valuables in the safe provided in their room/flat. Be especially careful with large amounts of cash in the period before your UK bank account is set up. If you are subletting your room, please lock personal items away in your wardrobe.
Outside the College#
You shouldn’t feel afraid travelling around central London, although after dark it’s always best to travel in groups if possible. Guard against opportunistic theft: never display your mobile phone, laptop or any other valuable item on the street. Be aware that there have been thefts on Mecklenburgh Square by people on bicycles and motorcycles riding close to people and snatching phones and bags.
Walk purposefully and be alert to what is going on around you. Preoccupation with your phone or listening to music makes you vulnerable to theft (and traffic accidents). Carry bags so they cannot be snatched off your shoulder and avoid, in cafes and other public places, hanging your bags over chair backs or leaving possessions on the ground.
You should not use the alley behind Coram’s Fields (between WGH and the Brunswick Centre) after dark.
Safe Instructions#
In each bedroom and flat there is a safe inside the wardrobe. On arrival, your safe should be open and ready for use. Please use it to store your valuable items. Do not share your personal code with anybody.
The Hotech Guardian User Manual To lock your safe:
- close the safe door
- enter a 4-digit PIN
- press LOCK.
The LED panel will show CLOSE, then CLOSED, when the safe is completely locked. The PIN used to lock the safe will flash on the LED panel.
Tounlockyoursafe:
- enter the same 4-digit PIN.
The LED panel will show OPEN when the safe is open. If an incorrect PIN is entered, $E$ CODE will be displayed on the LED panel, in which case: press RESET and re-enter the PIN.
If an incorrect PIN is entered three times, the safe will lock itself for 15 minutes and prevent all access. The number of minutes remaining until the PIN can be re-entered will show on the LED panel. LO-BAT on the LED panel indicates that the safe batteries are low and need to be changed. Please contact Reception to change the batteries. ERROR on the LED panel indicates that the safe has jammed while opening or closing. Push on the safe door to make sure the safe bolts are not pushing against the safe frame.
If the safe is locked when you arrive, or you forget your code, please contact Reception.
Emergencies#
In the event of any major emergency in London, such a terrorist incident or an accident on public transport, both the College and your family will want to know as quickly as possible that you are safe. In order to facilitate this, you are asked to:
- keep the College fully informed of any changes to your contact details;
- sign in all visitors to the College, so that their safety can be established as well as your own.
Please talk to the Head of Reception & Security if you want to clarify any aspect of the security procedures at the College.
Calling for Help in an Emergency#
In an emergency (a crime is taking place, there has been a traffic accident, someone is hurt or in danger), you should call the emergency services on 999 and ask for the police - and an ambulance if someone is hurt.
If you need to speak to a police officer about a non-urgent issue such as reporting a theft, you should call 101 or report online on https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-the-police/report-a-crime-incident/.
If an emergency takes place while you are in the College and you call the emergency services on 999, you must inform Reception. They need to know so that when the emergency services arrive at the College, the reception staff can direct them to you.
Incidents within the College#
If you are in need of assistance within the College the you can call Reception on 0207837 8888 at any time the Supervisor will come to assist when they are able. If something happens with another Member or with a member of staff you may wish to refer to the Complaints Policy, the Sexual Misconduct and Harrassment Policy or the Members’ Disciplinary Procedure in this handbook. See the Deputy Registrar or Registrar for confidential advice.