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Staying safe in London in 2025

10 January 2025

As we start 2025, we have some reminders to help you stay safe on campus and around London.

Three students walk towards the camera against a background of trees and greenery. They are looking each each other, smiling and talking.

Information on our top tips to stay safe this year:

  • Be aware of your surroundings
  • Fraud and scams
  • How to report misconduct and get support
  • Other contacts for emergency and non-emergency services

Staying safe on campus

Emergency security support: Download the SafeZone app which allows you to contact UCL Security and request emergency assistance at the touch of a button at any time of day.

  • If you raise an alert off campus, we will inform emergency services on your behalf and share your location.

Download the app and register with your UCL email address:

Download from a Google device

Download from a Apple device

  • Call +44 (0)20 7679 2222 (Bloomsbury Campus).
  • Call +44 (0)208 0168 555 (UCL East).

Non-emergency security support on campus

  • Call +44 (0)20 7679 2108 (Bloomsbury Campus)

How can you stay aware of your surroundings in London?

Guard your phone: Phone snatching is a common crime, especially in areas like Gordon Street, Gower Street, and transport hubs. Always stay alert when using your phone in public. You can find more tips in our article on phone snatching

Try to walk in pairs or groups and avoid walking alone at night. Plan to travel with friends or use well-lit, busy routes.

Don’t leave personal items unattended, whether in public places, or on campus at cafes, and libraries.

Read more about staying safe in London here.

What should you know about avoiding fraud and scams?

Only pay tuition fees via the Flywire portal to make sure your transactions are safe.

We will never contact you about tuition fees from a non-UCL email address. And if you are ever unsure about the authenticity of an email before you transfer and would like to check, or if you think you have been scammed, email our crime prevention team who will support you: crimeprevention-personalsafety@ucl.ac.uk.

What can you do if you experience or witness misconduct?

Use UCL’s Report + Support tool to report incidents of bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct, either anonymously or with your contact details.

Our Support and Wellbeing Services team offers free, confidential services to help you navigate difficult experiences. All our support services are free of charge and open to students of all levels.

For 24/7 support, you can call our Support Line on +44 (0)808 238 0077 to speak with an adviser.

Find out about our range of support and services.

This includes information on disability and mental health services, support on and off campus and other academic, financial and welfare support.

Other Contacts for emergency and non-emergency support