 | Feeling ill?
What to do if you are feeling unwell while in Torbay.  Safety First:
Safety advice from the British Council for language students (PDF).  
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We hope that you stay safe while you are in Torbay, and offer this advice to help you avoid trouble
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A quick word of reassurance
The UK is generally a safe country, and Torbay is one of the safest places to visit in the UK. The vast majority of students who visit Torbay will not experience any form of crime. However, just as in your own country, crimes do take place in Torbay. Much of the advice that follows is common sense, but taking a few simple precautions will make you feel safer and help stop you becoming one of the unlucky few who may become a victim of crime.
Remember that the police, council, government and LAL Torbay are working together to make your time in Torbay as safe as possible (for example, the Operation Columbus is a recent campaign to promote your safety).
On your first day you will be given a talk which will include advice on how to keep safe. Don't worry if you miss a bit or can't understand it all first time: that information is included in this guide.
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The Police
Britain's police are well-known for their friendliness and commitment to keeping the public safe. They are available to help you as well as to look after you, and you should feel free to speak to them and ask them questions if you see them in the street.
If you need to contact the police, you can visit a police station at Southfield Road in Paignton, South Street in Torquay or Reabarn Close in Brixham. You can telephone the police by telephoning 08452 777444 for non-urgent enquiries. The police have translators who can speak your language.
In a serious emergency, dial 999 (or 112) free of charge from any telephone.
If you were told that you need to register with the police when you arrived in the UK, ask the Welfare team to arrange for you to visit the local police station.
If you want to report a crime, tell a member of the LAL Torbay Welfare team who can contact the police on your behalf. If you contact the police directly, please tell the Welfare Team that you have done this.
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Staying safe on the streets
The biggest risk on the streets is probably traffic, not criminals. Remember that our cars drive on the left side of the road, and look both ways before you cross or step onto the road.
It's safer to walk with friends and not on your own. If you do have to walk on your own, avoid dark or empty places. Don't listen to music while you are walking. It is a good idea to find safe routes to places you may want to visit during the day, rather than struggling with a map in the dark.
If you feel afraid or are threatened when you are out, leave the place immediately. Never reply to threats or insults. If you think that someone is following you, cross the road, go to a public place, such as a shop or restaurant and either ask or telephone for help.
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Looking after your things
It is a good idea to make sure that anything you have which is valuable is marked with your name and address: it is not likely that it will be stolen, but it is more likely that you will lose it! You can use an 'invisible' marker that can only be seen under special light.
It is also a good idea to write down the serial numbers of electrical or electronic devices to identify them if they are lost. You can register these items, especially mobile telephones, with LAL Torbay.
If you have a portable computer, it is best not to carry it in a bag which is obviously designed for computers, and be careful when you are using it in public.
Whatever you do, think about your valuables and don't leave anything valuable where it can be seen by other people. Don't talk for ages on a mobile telephone, for example. Make sure that you can see your coat, bag and other belongings all the time. Keep your keys in a pocket, not in a bag.
Carry at least enough change to make a telephone call (40p), but do not, under any circumstances, carry large amounts of cash. It is important to realise that you do not need to carry your passport with you in Britain. You should keep your passport and large amounts of money safely locked away. At the very least you should keep them locked in your suitcase.
Take care if you use a cash machine, both to make sure that your card and money will not be stolen, and to make sue that your PIN (code number) is not copied. Never write down your PIN.
Safety in Clubs and Bars
There is an increasing risk of drinks being 'spiked' with sleeping tablets or drugs in bars and clubs. You should not accept drinks from strangers, and should not let your drinks out of your sight. If you feel unusually unwell or 'strange' after a drink, get help from a friend or a senior member of staff immediately.
Remember that you can contact the school at any time by telephoning + 44 (0)1803 553062, or call the emergency services by dialling 999.
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Buses and Trains
Try not to wait on your own at bus stops. If you are travelling late at night, try to get some friends to meet you at the bus stop and walk home with you.
Although the view from the top of double-deck buses is great, it is safer to sit or stand on the bottom deck, near to the driver.
Make sure you know the time of the last bus home.
If you are travelling by bus or by train, make sure that you keep your personal belongings in sight. Don't leave them in luggage racks where you cannot see them.
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Taxis
There are three kinds of taxis in Britain: two are licensed by the council and may be considered safe; unlicensed taxis should be considered dangerous.
Traditional taxis, or 'Hackney Carriages' have a lamp that says 'TAXI' on the roof, and a notice on the back which shows the company that owns the taxi and the licence from the council. These cabs can be stopped in the street and hired, and you pay a fare recorded on a meter in the cab according to the distance travelled and the time the journey takes.
Private Hire taxis (also known as 'minicabs') do not have a 'TAXI' lamp, but must have a plate showing the company and license on the back, and the telephone number of the company on the side or windscreen. Private hire taxis must be booked either by telephone or in person at a taxi office; they may charge a fare according to the meter like Hackney Carriages, or may agree a fare before the journey. Private Hire taxis cannot be hired by stopping them on the street.
The third type of taxi must not be used: unlicensed drivers occasionally try to persuade pedestrians that they are cheap 'taxis', but they are often uninsured and unsafe. If a taxi does not have either a 'TAXI' lamp or a taxi license plate, it is unlicensed and must not be used.
LAL Torbay uses Torbay Taxis Limited, whose number is + 44 (0)1803 211611.
If you travel on your own in a taxi, sit behind the driver.
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