West Midlands is revealed to be the region where students feel least safe

A recent survey by Student Beans has revealed that the West Midlands is the region where students feel least safe.

The survey highlighted that only 22 percent of students studying in the West Midlands, the region in which the University is located, felt safe in the area.

Meanwhile, the safest places for students are the East of England as well as Northern Ireland where a significant 50 percent of students feel safe.

However, Peter Dunn, the director of Press and Policy at Warwick, insisted that students should not be concerned by the findings, he urged: “this is too broad to be useful to anyone – the West Midlands covers everything from inner city universities to safer campus universities such as Warwick with our extensive CCTV and campus security and active resident tutor system.”

Lissie Whittall, a second-year Classical Civilisation student, from her own experience, warned that even with the extensive security measures at Warwick, students still need to be vigilant on campus after nights out.

She stated: “Me and two female friends were walking down the path towards lakeside when we passed another student throwing up by a lamppost. After we had walked some distance ahead we heard the pounding of footsteps behind us. We turned around to find him chasing us. We had to ring some of our friends to come and fetch is whilst we were running away.”

Ms Whittall added: “It has definitely made me more wary when I am out at night both on campus and in Coventry, especially because you do not expect things like that to happen on campus or when there is a group of you”

Aside from the regional statistics, the Student Beans survey has also revealed that a large proportion of students neglect safety on a night out.

Despite warnings, 80 percent of students claim to have walked home alone after a night out, 43 percent admit that they have got into a taxi without knowing if it was licensed and a further 43 percent can’t remember how they got home on at least one occasion.

Additionally, whilst drunk, a significant 39 percent of students have injured themselves, 27 percent have had a sexual encounter which they subsequently regretted, whilst eight percent of students claim to have had their drink spiked whilst at university.

In response to the survey, Bebe Husakova, Welfare and Campaigns Officer at the University of Warwick Students’ Union, urged: “Keeping students happy, safe and healthy is our priority. On a night out we advise students to eat something before going out, make every third drink a soft one, keep some money for a taxi if needed, don’t leave their drink unattended, and importantly emphasising the unpredictability of the effects of alcohol.”

She added: “Of course we encourage students who do not want to drink not to feel ashamed or embarrassed; everyone has a right to be sober.”

For further advice on staying safe whilst at university, Student Beans has collated a guide of their 50 top safety tips.