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Parents and carers rightly worry about how safe their children will be when they go off to university but the team behind the trusted and independent Complete University Guide has delved into the publicly available data to help you and your new student feel prepared for the big move. 

Looking at domestic burglary, robbery of personal property, and violence with injury, it shows that Guilford ranks as the safest place in the UK for students with the rest of the South East boasting 5 of the top 10 overall safest places.  

The UK has a fantastic range of places to study from small towns to big cities and the latest information is there to help students and their parents understand the different environments they offer.

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said: 

The Complete University Guide is the trusted and independent gold standard for university rankings in the UK, and has helped countless students choose the university and the subjects that are right for them. While invaluable, the league tables only tell part of the story. Our Complete University Guide safety rankings provide an additional layer of information to help students make the right choices.
 
Today’s publication is great news for students in Guilford who are studying in one of the safest areas of the UK. And they are not alone with the South East having 7 of the top 15 safest places in our new ranking.

The new list has been welcomed by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Lisa Townsend. The Police and Crime Commissioner said: 

I welcome the findings of this study that show that Guildford is a safe place for students to study.

Surrey is the fourth safest county in England and Wales and Surrey Police were recognised in the last year for their outstanding approach to preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
 
Working with Surrey communities so that they feel safe is a key focus of my Police and Crime Plan. I am extremely proud of the work of Surrey Police and all our partners who together protect our communities.

I also recognise that students can be vulnerable and may have concerns about becoming a victim of crime. I want to reassure them that Surrey Police will be there for them if they report any crime, and that my office and partners remain dedicated to ensuring every victim receives the best possible support.

Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer of IDP Connect, said:

The Complete University Guide’s mission has always been about helping students make the right decisions about their future. Today’s publication of the areas where students are safest  builds on this work, and gives additional information to help students and their families make the right choices for them when choosing a university.

Across the South East region, it is a mixed picture. As well as Guildford coming out on top, Chichester (3rd), Winchester (4th) and Canterbury (9th) all came within the top 10 safest areas while Portsmouth (30th) and Southampton (32nd) sat nearer the bottom of the table. 

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

• The UK-wide list of the Complete University Guide
• The team behind the Complete University Guide [thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk] has compiled university league tables for more than 25 years. Since 2007, these have been freely available online. 
• The Complete University Guide is an autonomous division of IDP Connect, global leader in education services and technology, from which, by mutual agreement, it retains its complete editorial independence.

Full Complete University Guide Crime Statistics rating for the South East:

Press & media contacts

Complete University Guide and IDP experts are available for broadcast interviews pre-records and on the day of publication.

For more information contact: 

• Jonah Duffin, Director of External Relations - jonah.duffin@idp.com - 020 7384 6066 or 07961 576 024 
• Gareth Snell, Cathod Du Media Agency - gareth@cathoddu.com - 07515164417