Welcome new students to Devon & Cornwall

Devon & Cornwall Police neighbourhood policing teams, working alongside university welfare teams and street marshals, will be carrying out patrols in popular nightlife spots during fresher’s welcome weeks to make sure thousands of new and returning students feel safe while out and about in the evenings.

Devon & Cornwall Police has a website page full of useful resources for students and staff such as posters and links to a range of support and guidance which you can find here: Freshers’/Welcome week resources | Devon & Cornwall Police

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “Devon and Cornwall are great places to study and to have fun. If it’s your first time away from home to live independently, it’s also one of the safest parts of the country to live.

“Nevertheless, when you are out in the evenings, try to stick with your friends, look out for one another and have a plan for getting home safely, including using well-lit routes where possible. Only use licensed taxis, and check for night bus services, which run on Saturday nights across the region, before you go out.”

“If you see or experience something that doesn’t seem right, we urge people to inform venue staff or a police officer or street marshal. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.  By reporting behaviours of concern, more serious crimes can be prevented.”

Devon & Cornwall Police is committed to tackling violence against women and girls, and urges anyone who finds themselves in an uncomfortable situation to inform venue staff or to contact the police. This includes incidents of predatory behaviour such as verbal harassment, sending unwanted messages or images and unwanted physical contact.

Confirmed incidents of spiking are rare in Devon and Cornwall, but it can happen to anyone. While most night out pass without incident, always keep an eye on your drink, don’t take drinks from strangers or pick up drinks that appear to have been abandoned, and be cautious of vapes offered by someone you don’t know. When incidents do occur, we take reports seriously and work with partners to identify those responsible and support those affected.

Anyone who thinks they may have been spiked should tell a trusted friend or member of venue staff or security as soon as possible. Once safe, and whenever it happened or who to, Devon and Cornwall Police encourages people to report suspected cases of spiking online or by calling 101.

ACC Mayhew said: “As thousands of new students arrive in our communities, we also want to help keep our roads and public spaces safe by reminding people of the rules around e-bikes, a popular way to get around, and e-scooters.”

Some students may not be aware, but it is illegal to ride privately owned e-scooters on public spaces like roads, cycle paths or parks, and they certainly must not be ridden on pavements. They can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission, so students who have one may wish to send it home as police can seize and destroy illegally ridden e-scooters.

Students should also make sure that they are aware of the rules around e-bikes. Electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) are legal to ride on the road and cycle paths, but if they have a throttle or pedals which aren’t used to propel them they will almost certainly be classed as an e-motorbike and are illegal to ride on the road unless the rider has a valid licence, insurance and motorcycle helmet and the vehicle is taxed and registered.

There is more help and advice for students at the links below.

Check for night bus services (running Saturday nights): Night Buses | Devon & Cornwall Police