Living in London

For many international visitors, this will be the first time you are away from home and in an unfamiliar country. This information is to help you during your stay here and give you practical advice. By international standards the UK is a safe country, with low levels of violence and street crime. Much of the advice is common sense, but it can make a real difference.

In the excitement of arriving in a new country it can be easy to become distracted and lose things – especially as you get on and off planes, trains and buses. Here is some practical advice to help you when you first arrive. Take special care of your passport, travel documents and tickets and keep them with you in a safe place. Before you travel, take a photocopy of all the pages of your passport that show your details, (name, photo, number and date and place of issue) and any pages with entry stamps and visas. Don’t keep large amounts of cash on you – only enough for your immediate needs, and make sure that you have some small notes and coins. Bring a credit card and keep it separate from your cash and passportLabel your bags clearly with your home address. Always use a licensed taxi: you can check this by looking at the back of the cab to make sure there is an official licence plate. You can also text CAB to 60835 (CABWISE service from Transport for London) and they will text you the taxi number or 2 local licensed minicab places near your location). Never agree to travel with someone who approaches you inside the terminal building unless you have made a booking for an airport transfer through Tti School.

Look out for thieves! It is very important that you never leave your bags or stuff anywhere. When you travel, always carry your bag on your lap. Also, when in a public place, never leave your bag unattended. London is a big city and has some very skilful pickpockets. They can see you are a tourist and this will make you a target. People have had their bags stolen in pubs, bars, discos, Internet cafés etc. Boys: do not keep your wallet or passport in the back pocket of your trousers! Girls: make sure your handbag is always zipped up when you are out and about.

When moving into new accommodation, don’t leave your stuff outside or in the open boot of the car or taxi. Use an ultraviolet pen to mark your valuables with your name and contact number. This will help the police return them to you. Make sure that nothing valuable can be seen from the window and don’t leave credit cards or cash lying about. Try not to use a computer case when carrying a laptop – use an ordinary bag and think twice before using it in public. Register your mobile phone free of charge with Immobilise Phone Crime (www.immoblise.com). If it is stolen, call 08701 123 123. You will need to have your IMEI number (15 numbers) when reporting a stolen mobile phone – this can be found by dialling *#06# on most mobiles or by looking behind the phone battery. You should keep a note of your IMEI number in a safe place. Never leave your mobile unattended.

Taking out insurance

It is very important that you take out insurance in case of theft and accidental damage. For general advice on insurance and a full list of providers, contact The British Insurance Broker’s Association at www.biba.org.uk.

Lock all outside doors and windows when you are at home. If you are female and live in a flat with a door entry system, do not put ‘Miss / Ms’ in front of your name, just use your family name. If you have a telephone answering machine, don’t say ‘I am not available…’, say ‘No one is available…’. If you are going away, tell someone you trust where you are going and when you will be back. Leave keys in a safe place where you can find them easily in case you need to leave in a hurry, but don’t keep them near doors or windows.

Take fire safety seriously. Your rented accommodation should have fire extinguishers and fire exits. Make sure you know how to use them and where to find them. If you are renting a flat, also ensure that it has smoke alarms and that they are in working order. If the flat has gas heating or appliances ask the landlord to see the safety certificate and ask the landlord for a carbon monoxide detector. Instructions for carbon monoxide safety can be found at http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/27/carbon-monoxide-advice.

It is usually safe to walk on the streets in the UK, although you should avoid walking alone at night and use your common sense wherever you are. When you first move into your accommodation find suitable and safe routes to shops, the Underground and Tti. Try to find routes that are busy and have lots of light. If you are returning home late at night, walk in a group or use public transport. Don’t take short cuts through parks or dark streets. Carry a personal attack alarm in your hand when walking at night in case you need it quickly. Avoid confrontation, it’s better and safer to walk away if you are being hassled. If you feel you are being followed, cross the street (more than once if necessary) and if you are still unhappy, move quickly into a public area such as a restaurant or bar and phone for help. It is not necessarily the best idea to use the first phone you see if it is in an isolated place. Carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards, or strap it over your shoulder. If someone tries to take your bag, let them – your safety is more important. Have your keys ready well before you reach the door of your car or house. If you live in a shared house, be careful who you let in: don’t let any strangers follow you inside.

Take care on the roads. Walk on the pavement. If there isn’t a pavement walk on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. When you cross the road, remember that cars drive on the left in the UK – your habit may be to look in the wrong direction.

Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you when you go out. Always carry enough change to make a phone call (20p) or to get a taxi. Be careful when using ATMs and try not to use them at night or in dark places. If possible go with a friend and leave as soon as you have your money.

When you use your mobile phone in public keep the conversation short, and especially if you have an expensive-looking phone be aware that thieves may be watching. When you use a public phone box, face outwards so you can see what’s going on around you.

Don’t accept drinks or drugs from strangers or leave your drink unattended in a public place – cases of drinks being ‘spiked’ (drugs added) have been known. Remember that the use of drugs in the UK is illegal, and if you are caught using drugs you can be arrested and fined or imprisoned.

There will probably be times when you need to take a taxi during our stay in the UK, for instance when you first arrive here or after a night out. If you don’t feel safe walking home, use a taxi. You do need to be careful when using cabs late at night, however. Only use licensed taxis! Some minicabs that stop in the street may be cheaper but are not licensed, and are therefore not as safe as taxis or minicabs you arrange by phone. If you are offered a taxi by a man standing on the street it is probably unlicensed.

CABWISE is a new SMS service that helps you contact a licensed minicab to take you home. The service is simple to use: text CAB to 60835 and you will have the numbers of one local taxi firm and two licensed minicab firms sent straight to your mobile. Agree a fare with the driver or agree to use the taximeter before you get into the taxi to avoid misunderstandings. Sit in the back of the cab and directly behind the driver when possible. It is quite usual to speak to the driver, but don’t give him any personal information. Have your cash ready and get out of the cab before you pay the driver. If you want, you can ask the cab driver to wait until you are safely inside your house before he drives away.

For international students in London, a car is almost certainly more trouble than it is worth, however you may decide to travel around the country in a rental car, in which case you must familiarize yourself with the rules of the road. Visit www.direct.gov.uk and search for the Highway Code.

The laws in the UK may be different from those in your home country. This especially applies to the use of tobacco, alcohol and weapons. You must not carry drugs with you (unless prescribed by a doctor) or use any illegal drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, LSD or amphetamines. It is illegal to carry any sort of weapon, including knives, self-defence chemical sprays, guns or stun guns. You must be 18 and over to buy tobacco. You must be 18 and over to buy alcohol. Never buy things that you think may have been stolen. If a stranger on the street offers to sell you a laptop computer then it’s definitely trouble!

If you need legal assistance, there are a number of organisations that can help you, for information about how to get free, confidential and independent legal advice visit the Directgov website. Also the Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) provides free, confidential and independent advice on a wide range of issues.

Britain is a tolerant society that believes in respecting the rights of minority groups. This belief is supported by law: if you are the victim of any racial abuse, report it to us at Tti. We have a formal procedure which will help you. You can also report it to our local branch of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. You can contact them on 0845 604 6610 or find out more from their website www.equalityhumanrights.com.