Personal safety on campus & in London

We take everyone’s safety and security on campus very seriously, and care about our students and staff at all times. This article contains some useful guidance both on how you can personally contribute to safer public spaces, reduce personal risk, and access support services and advice.

In this article:

• Keeping each other safe at King's

• Security on campus

• SafeZone app

• Security on campus: 

   

  Campus and emergency contacts

   

  • Key information

  • Denmark Hill

  • Guy's campus 

  • St Thomas'

  • Waterloo

• How you can personally contribute to safer public spaces

• Personal safety on & off campus

• The Victim's Code

• Spiking

• Our campuses:

  • Keeping your belongings secure

  • Living in Residences

  • Health & Safety

• Fire evacuation guidance

• Support services

• bullying

• harassment

• sexual misconduct

• restriction of free speech or academic freedom

Find out more about our approach to preventing and addressing bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

• Key information
• Denmark Hill
• Guy's campus 
• St Thomas'
• Waterloo

Each campus security team is led by a Security Manager.  If you have a specific security concern or are seeking safety advice, please contact them directly.  
 

If you need to speak to someone urgently, please call Ex.82222 (020 8848 2222) and select the relevant campus.  

• The current national threat level is ‘severe’ and we are now operating at an enhanced security level

• For the safety and security of everyone on site, your identification pass will be checked upon entry and should be clearly visible whenever on campus.

• Security is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across the university sites. This includes guarding, patrols, CCTV monitoring and access control

• You can contact site-based security teams and receive immediate assistance if you: 
  • Feel unsafe and need help
  • Need to report a theft or crime 
  • Have lost your property
     
• All thefts need to be reported to the police by the victim of the crime 
• You may enter the reception of any building if you feel threatened and have a university ID card. Security teams at entrances will check for ID so wear your King’s lanyard at all times on campus. 
• Contact King's Venues to book extra security guards for an event.
   

• David Barclay

• Email: David.barclay@kcl.ac.uk 

Deputy security manager

• Deependra Khadka or Tom King

Email: Deependra.khadka@kcl.ac.uk  or Thomas.2.king@kcl.ac.uk   

Denmark Hill East (including Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience)

• Phone ext 80008 (020 7848 0008).

• Security is located at the ground floor main reception desk of the IOPPN Building.

Denmark Hill West Campuses  

• Phone ext 85500 (020 7848 5500)  

• Security is located at the ground floor main reception desk of the WEC building

Campus security manager

• Tony Derrick

• Email: tony.derrick@kcl.ac.uk  

Deputy security manager

Vacant

Hodgkin Building  

• Phone ext 86666 (020 7848 6666)

• Security is located at on the ground floor of the Hodgkin Building adjacent to the entrance

New Hunt's House

• Phone ext 86830 (0207 848 6830)

• Security is located on the ground floor of the New Hunt's House Building by the Randle door entrance

• 24/7 Student Library on the first floor (secure access only)

NHS Trust Security teams

• Trust Security are contacted by dialling ext 83333 (020 7188 3333) (from within the Tower)

Greenwood Theatre

• Phone ext 80007 (0207 848 0007)

• Security is located on the ground floor of the theatre adjacent to the entrance.

Great Dover Street Residence and Wolfson House Residence

• Security is located at the ground floor reception desks overnight.  

Britannia House  

• Phone Ext. 82803 (020 7848 2903)

• Security is located at the ground floor reception desk.

• Keep your distance. For example, rather than coming up behind someone, consider crossing the road. Someone walking ahead of you may perceive you to be a threat, even if that’s not what you intend.

• If you can’t cross the road, avoid coming up behind someone quickly or quietly. For example, call out ‘runner passing on your right’; make a phone call, or pretend to make one, to a family member or friend. Silence can be scary.

• Give other people space – if you’re passing someone else on a footpath or pavement, give as much space as possible to avoid crowding them, and move into single file if you’re walking with someone else.

• Avoid making eye contact/staring, or making personal comments to or about someone you don’t know. Be an Active Bystander –

  • If you see someone on their own who appears to be in distress, don’t ignore it – if safe to do so and without putting yourself in any danger, ask the person if they need any help or call the police on 999 telling them where you are and what you can see.

  • If you sense someone is in a situation that’s making them uncomfortable, it can be more helpful to speak to the other party, rather than to the person who’s on the receiving end of their unwanted attention, as long as it is safe to do so. For example, asking for directions or the time can help defuse a difficult situation.

  • If you’re on campus alert the KCL security teams on 020 7848 8661 ext. 88661

  • Don’t be put off approaching someone who may need assistance, but think about how best to communicate reassurance rather than increase their concerns.

• Check out the UN Women UK’s campaign for safe public spaces to learn more. Their research shows that over 70% of women in the UK have experienced sexual harassment in public, and all of us can contribute to ensuring that public spaces are safer. 

Personal safety on & off campus
We should all be able to feel safe and secure as we go about our daily lives. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust offers some practical advice on personal safety, for students, at work and at home. For example, it includes details of a free personal safety phone app, compatible with Android and IOS devices.

If you feel that you are being followed or are approached by someone who makes you feel uncomfortable call the police immediately on 999 and try to make your way to the nearest visible location where there are other people who can assist (e.g. a shop, a security officer, ticket attendant at a train station). 

It is important to protect yourself from theft, particularly of your mobile phone and other digital devices that hold personal data. The Met Police offer advice on how to keep your devices secure, and Take Five share guidance on what to do should your device be stolen.

If you are on a King's campus, residence or walking through or near campus public spaces and have immediate concerns for your personal safety, head to our nearest 24/7 King’s security reception or call the 24/7 security number on 0207 848 2222 – we will help you or wait with you until the police arrive. Additionally, on Guy’s Campus, there are two help points where you can call for assistance.

Important to know: make sure you are wearing your student ID card on campus. However you may wish to consider taking your ID off when you leave campus.
 

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 is an assault and a serious crime.

Much more information can be found in our article What is spiking, how can I report it and how can I stay safe?

Our campuses: Keeping your belongings secure
Studying alongside a large community at King’s will mean sharing a wide range of public facilities on campus, such as the library, or a classroom.

So that you can always keep your belongings secure, remember to: 

Important to know: 

• Do not let others follow you into buildings without the other person using their own King's card to gain entry.

• If you witness someone entering a King's property who appears to have deliberately avoided using their King's card, please contact your security team on campus or residency staff in the first instance.

Your role in a fire evacuation

Watch this video to understand the evacuation process that operates in King’s buildings: Evacuation guidance

Fire safety for students in Halls of Residence

Watch this video to learn essential fire safety information about living in Halls of Residence: Halls of residence fire safety

Support services 
If you’re feeling concerned and anxious, we do encourage you to speak to someone, a friend or family member or one of our support services available to you. 

Please refer to our support options in our article Top tips on managing your mental health & wellbeing.