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Visit Portsmouth and be safe

Portsmouth has over 7 million visitors year, attracted to the waterfront, the shops, sporting events, the historic sights and nightlife. It's a very safe city but it is worth taking a few simple precautions so that your time here is safe and enjoyable.

Street safety

• Think ahead and plan your journey, check bus and train times and avoid deserted and unlit areas
• Don’t walk home alone at night
• Try to avoid shortcuts like alleys, waste ground and wooded, bushy areas
• Stay alert, be aware of where you are and what’s going in around you
• Don’t listen to your MP3 player as wearing headphones means you can’t hear traffic, strangers or potential trouble

Keeping your stuff safe when out shopping

• Don’t leave your bag unattended as this could lead to a security alert
• Don’t put you bag under a seat or table, as someone could take it
• Keep your purse or wallet close to your body and don’t carry lots of cash
• When using a cash machine, check that noone is looking over your shoulder and that the machine has not been tampered with - if you notice something odd, report it to the police or bank
• Don’t use a cash machine late at night or in a deserted street
• Never tell anyone your card's PIN

Keeping your mobile phone safe

• Keep you phone out of sight when you’re not using it
• Use the security lock code, if you have one
• Record details of the electronic serial number
• Report a lost or stolen phone to the police and your service provider

Safe travel

• Plan how you are getting home before you go out
• Make sure you know when your last train or bus runs and leave plenty of time to get to the stop or station
• Always pre-book your taxi
• Sit in the rear of the taxi
• Park your car in a designated car park, not in dark or deserted streets
• Never accept lifts from strangers

Out at night

• Keep your bag or wallet out of sight and close to you
• Never accept a drink from someone you don’t know or don’t completely trust
• Don’t leave your drink unattended and keep an eye on your friends’ drinks
• Know your drinking limit
• Don’t let a drunk friend go home on their own
• Stay aware of what’s going on around you - keep away from threatening situations

Reporting a crime

• In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, call 999 - you can dial 999 for free from any public phone
• To report non-urgent crime call 0845 045 4545
• If you have any information about crime you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
• If you have been the victim of crime, whether you’ve reported it or not, you can call the National Victim Supportline on 0845 30 30 900 for free and confidential advice

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