Female students in Bradford have been assured their safety is paramount after a national survey claimed that one in seven had been subjected to a serious sexual assault or serious physical violence.

The National Union of Students survey questioned 2,000 women students across the UK.

It found that a quarter had been subjected to an unwanted sexual experience and 12 per cent had been stalked.

In 60 per cent of cases the perpetrator was also a student.

But the survey found only four per cent of women students had reported sexual assaults to their institution with only one in ten filing a complaint to police.

A students union spokesman at the University of Bradford said the problem was no worse in Bradford than anywhere else, but a number of schemes had been set up following safety concerns.

These included the Safe Spot initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, introduced last year and aimed at new students to Bradford.

At least 45 shops, businesses and council buildings, including the Tourist Information Centre in Centenary Square and the National Media Museum, have signed up to the scheme, displaying stickers to show they are ‘safe spots’ to stop at if students feel threatened.

A hard-hitting poster campaign was also held, aimed at the perpetrators of such crimes.

The spokesman said: “Students should be assured that their safety is always a top priority, irrespective of statistics like these.”

The university’s deputy security manager, Mick Habergham, said that in the last academic year no serious sexual assaults on female students had been reported to them.

He said the university had many initiatives, including the Student Safe Spot scheme, the Students’ Union Safety Bus which runs within a two-mile radius between 4pm and midnight, and free attack alarms available on campus from the Students’ Union.

Mr Habergham said: “Our advice to students is very simple – avoid walking alone at night, and walk in groups of two or more where possible. Whilst our campus is very well lit and many security cameras are in place, students should always be vigilant and use common sense when it comes to personal safety.”

e-mail: steve.wright @telegraphandargus.co.uk