RGU:Union Advice & Support has put together some advice to assist the students of RGU in keeping safe and secure when studying and living in Aberdeen. There is information on the following topics:
Housebreaking is when someone breaks into your property, usually to steal your personal possessions. Housebreaking can occur at any time of the year, but during the winter months and other seasonal times of the year, properties can give the appearance of being empty (i.e. lack of lights, less movement).
Try to reduce the risk of housebreaking by using some of the following crime prevention measures:
- Check to see if your property has an approved monitored alarm system. If it does not have one, see if you can speak with your property manager/landlord to get one installed.
- Don't forget about windows and secondary/side doors of your property when locking up and going out. Always remove keys from locks and keep them in a safe place.
- Good lighting around the outside of a property is an important security feature as it increases the opportunity of criminals being seen. Check to see if you have lighting outside, and if it is not working properly, report it and/or have it fixed through the maintenance procedure agreed to in your tenancy.
- Internal lights and sounds also give the impression that someone is at home. Consider leaving a radio, light or TV on when you are not in the property to give the impression that someone is at home.
- Tools, equipment or other items that are normally left outside shold be stored appropriately so that they cannot be used by a thief to break a window, or gain entry through a door.
- If you have any valuables (i.e. gold/jewellery/currency), check with your bank to see if a storage facility can be provided to keep them safe. Alternatively, you can buy a security box/safe for you home.
- Set your social media accounts to friends and family only and double check what you are putting on social media, especially if you are going on holiday or attending events. Telling the world that you are not at home can be an opportuntiy for thieves.
- Mark your possessions with an ultra violet pen (with your House number and Post Code).
- Ensure you have adequate contents insurance for your items, and photograph and keep an inventory of your possessions as a record for yourself and to assist in any insurance claims.
Report any instance of theft and/or housebreaking to the Police, either by phone or in person. You should also aim to report any unusual activity if you witness anything strange.
Drink Spiking is when a substance is added to a drink without the drinker's knowledge or consent to make them vulnerable. This could be recreational/party drugs, such as Ecstasy and LSD, and/or other drugs such as Rohypnol (Roofie) and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), being added to drinks and which can sedate/incapacitate a person. It could also be additional shots of alcohol being added to drinks without the persons knowledge or consent to make them stronger. It is hard to tell if a drink has been tampered with, as these drugs can be odourless, colourless and tasteless.
Injection Spiking is when a drug is administered directly into a person via a needle without the persons knowledge or consent to make them vulnerable. Injection Spiking can pose additional health risks due to its use of a needle. Reports of this method of spiking are rare however Police Scotland have recently begun conducting enquiries following a handful of reports across the country. We encourage students to be vigilant and to contact the emergency services (999) and/or NHS (111) if you think you have been spiked by injection.
Spiking can be done for a variety of reasons, which could include theft, sexual assault, rape or even done as a "prank/joke". However, administering a substance to a person without their knowledge or consent is likely to be considered a criminal act and any student reported to have carried out this kind of activity shall be liable to criminal proceedings and/or disciplinary proceedings from the Union/University.
Symptoms
Drinks which have been spiked usually look, taste and smell the same as those which haven't been spiked. Therefore, it is very difficult to realise if you or another person has been spiked. Symptoms can vary depending on many factors (i.e. substance(s), dose(s), individual's size and weight etc) but some symptoms include:
- Confusion and/or disorientation, particularly after waking up.
- Difficulty concentrating and/or speaking.
- Hallucinations and/or having an "out of body" experience.
- Loss of balance.
- Lowered inhibitions.
- Memory loss (amnesia / "blackouts").
- Paranoia.
- Nausea.
- Unconsciousness.
- Visual Problems (blurred vision).
- Vomiting.
Some effects of substances can be felt/seen relatively quickly (after 15-30mins) and some symptoms can last for several hours. If you, or your friend, feel strange, not normal and/or are noticeably more drunk than what you would consider usual for the amount of alcohol consumed, then seek assistance straight away - contact a trusted friend or relative (or NHS 24 or the Police)
Support
We encourage students to remain vigilant when out partying. When having nights out or socials, tell some trusted friends or relatives where you are going and when you'll be back, and always think twice before accepting drinks (or other substances) from strangers.
If you need assistance on a night out because you think you, or a friend, has been spiked, try to:
- Speak with a trusted friend/relative (or a medical professional/NHS 24) and get to a safe place.
- Do not go home alone or leave the venue with someone you don’t know/trust or someone you have recently met.
- Do not drink more alcohol as this could lead to more serious problems.
- For urgent help, call the emergency services.
- If you are feeling unwell, ask a trusted friend or relative to take you to the nearest A&E.
- Make a report to the police as soon as you can (most drugs leave the body within 72 hours of being taken and some in as little as 12 hours).
We know that spiking can be scary and that speaking with the police may feel daunting. If you need someone to talk to about spiking, contact RGU:Union Advice & Support.
Rape Crisis Grampian have supplied the Union with Anti-Spiking Caps which seal bottles to prevent pills and illicit substances being slipped into a drink. They still allow for use of a straw, and they are brightly coloured and glow under UV light.
RGU:Union, courtesy of Rape Crisis Grampian, can provide Anti-Spiking Caps free of charge.
Click here to order Anti-Spiking Caps.
'Check Your Drink' Spiked Drink Tests can be used to test drinks for traces of illicit substances. The tests work by dabbing a finger/straw/stirrer into a drink, putting a drop of liquid onto a test patch and checking for a colour change.
RGU:Union provides CYD Spiked Drink Tests free of charge.
Click here to order CYD Spiked Drink Tests.
If you are concerned and/or suspect that you or someone else has been a victim of a crime (i.e. drink spiked, harassed, assaulted etc) we would encourage you to speak with a trusted friend or relative and/or report the incident to a medical professional or the Police where appropriate.
If you are unsure how or where to make a report, or you feel uncomfortable making a report, you are always welcome to contact RGU:Union Advice & Support for support.
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by sexual harassment or any sort of sexual harm, help and support is available: Rape Crisis Grampian (RCG) is a specialist support service for survivors of sexual violence in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire and offer free and confidential, emotional and practical support to anyone over the age of 13 years who has experienced sexual violence at any time in their life. RGU also runs a Counselling and Wellbeing Centre to support students.
Report + Support
RGU and RGU:Union have a zero tolerance approach to sexual violence and harassment. All students and staff can report incidents of Gender Based Violence, Hate Crime, Harassment or Bullying to RGU, either anonymously or not, to simply disclose, or to get further support from RGU by visiting Report + Support.
If an assault has just taken place and you are not in a safe place, feel at risk, or have injuries requiring urgent attention, call the emergency services on 999. If you need a safe space or support from RGU, on or off campus, call the Emergency Response Team on +44 (0) 7854 199020 - this number is available 24 hours a day.
During Covid-19 you still have the right to feel safe wherever you are and whatever you are doing. RGU services are still running and the police and health services are still here to help you.
Contact RGU:Union Advice & Support via the below links or via the chat-widget on this page. If you wish to help improve our service, provide feedback by completing our questionnaire.
This page has been updated for academic session 2021-2022.