SafeGuarding
SafeGuarding operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, supporting the University community globally and our SafeGuarding officers are the first responders to any incidents which may arise. Our SafeGuarding officers are highly trained professionals who can deal with any situation to support our students and staff.
Heriot-Watt University is the first university in the UK to change from a security service to a multi award-winning SafeGuarding Service as this better reflects the role that our officers carry out to support our University Community.
SafeGuarding officers are based at the Edinburgh campus and at Jean Muir Student Village in Galashiels and can be easily identified by their bright blue jackets.
You can contact us 24/7 for support or general advice by using:
• the SafeZone app,
• any of the red phones located around the Edinburgh campus,
• 0131 451 3500 (Edinburgh campus) or 07823 326242 (Jean Muir Student Village),
• email to SafeGuarding@hw.ac.uk or SafeGuardingJMSV@hw.ac.uk
Our officers can be seen on foot patrols around the Edinburgh campus and Jean Muir Student Village. At the Edinburgh campus you will also see our vehicles patrolling the site.
At the Edinburgh campus, we are located in the SafeGuarding Services Building on Gait 6 (building H on the campus map).
At Jean Muir Student Village, SafeGuarding are located in the Gateway Building.
Our officers are the first responders to all incidents on campus. All of them are fully first aid trained and can be contacted via the SafeZone app or by telephone.
All SafeGuarding officers have also undergone the Scottish Mental Health First Aid training provided by the NHS.
If you need the emergency services on campus, please contact SafeGuarding first and we will arrange this for you and bring them to your location.
SafeZone is the free personal safety app that is available for all Heriot-Watt students and staff. It can be downloaded from the Apple App store or the Google play store.
Report It can be used by staff and students at Heriot-Watt to submit information confidentially, and if needs be anonymously, in the event of unacceptable behaviour such as harassment, bullying or abuse of any kind.
At the Edinburgh campus there are a number of car parks available for students and staff.
Car parks A, B, G, H, I, J are unpermitted and can be used by students, staff and visitors.
All other car parks operate a permit system and are only available for staff members who hold a Heriot-Watt permit. If you require a parking permit, please contact CarParking@hw.ac.uk
There is no overnight parking at the Edinburgh campus for students or staff.
Resident students wishing to bring a car and park it at the Edinburgh campus overnight need to meet the following criteria:
- Blue badge holders
- Students who may meet blue badge criteria – evidence of this will be needed
- Carers – evidence will need to be provided of dependent relative. Additionally, live-in carers for resident students
- Students travelling from out with the UK with a foreign registered vehicle
- Students with a temporary injury - access maybe granted for a designated period. Evidence must be provided from a medical professional. These requests will be considered on an individual basis.
- Any resident student who feels they have a special case not covered above should make an individual application for a permit.
Students wishing to apply for a parking permit under the above criteria should contact CarParking@hw.ac.uk with any supporting evidence. You must include your vehicle registration number, make, model, motor insurance policy number/expiry date of insurance and also contact details (both email and mobile contacts). Permits will be issued for parking in car parks H and I only.
At the Edinburgh campus, lost and found is located in the SafeGuarding Services building on Gait 6. Any items of lost property should be handed in to us there, where it will be held for one week before being transferred to Fettes Police Station.
At Jean Muir Student Village, lost and found is located in the Gateway building. Any items of lost property should be handed into SafeGuarding where they will be held for one week before being transferred to Galashiels Police Station.
If you think you have lost something on campus, please contact SafeGuarding either via the SafeZone Enquires button, telephone or email.
Students who live on campus in Edinburgh or at Jean Muir Student Village can receive support from SafeGuarding 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you need our help, please activate the SafeZone app.
We often meet students who may be experiencing difficulties in coping with the challenges of university life and living away from home. Our priority is for your wellbeing and that of the entire university community.
We work in collaboration with Student Wellbeing, the Chaplaincy and the Student Union to support our resident students.
Every campus is equipped with facilities for storing bicycles and we can be contacted via email for advice on how to appropriately secure these.
We also offer a free security bike marking (£25 if bought from a shop) throughout the year, details of these events are on the student and staff portals throughout the year.
At our Edinburgh campus, we also conduct patrols on bicycles, which allows us to respond to incidents faster and also supports the University’s green initiative.
We support lots of events around the University including arrivals weekend, open days and graduations. All of the SafeGuarding officers are very approachable and are always on hand to support all students, staff and visitors to our campuses.
We support the start of every new academic year and are on hand to assist new students and their families on arrivals weekend. Our officers are on hand to greet, direct and reassure them as they arrive to move into the halls of residence.
We provide a visible presence at many of the on-campus events that are run during Fresher’s week and are on hand to provide help and support if needed. For example, helping students back to their residences, providing first aid, helping students who are locked out, and providing directions around campus.
We also provide a visible presence at all graduation ceremonies at both the Edinburgh and Borders campuses.
At the Malaysia campus, there are similar services available to those we run in the UK.
SafeZone at the Malaysia campus works exactly the same as it does at all other Heriot-Watt campuses and can be activated for help or support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At the Dubai campus there are similar services available to those we run in the UK.
SafeZone at the Dubai campus works exactly the same as it does at all other Heriot-Watt campuses and can be activated for help or support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.