Events

In the pink: students at Reading University

This week the University of Reading welcomes thousands of freshers to its 17,500-strong population of students.

Among their newfound social lives and the temptation of 'Snakebite', the idea of personal safety and crime prevention won't be high on their list of priorities.

But it should be, says Reading University, whose Student Union team is relaunching its annual Security and Safety Awareness Week this month.

"Unfortunately freshers are an easy target," says Rhiann Davies, deputy security services manager at the university, "it's the first time they're away from home, they are probably not familiar with the campus or Reading.

"Unfortunately October is when we see a spate of incidents because I think offenders know this."

Last year eleven people were assaulted in the streets surrounding the university within two weeks from 27 November.

Pete Jeffreys, news editor of Spark, told BBC News in December 2006 that local gangs seemed to be targeting Reading students.

He added that one student had even been beaten up for his fish and chips after a night out.

Don't become a victim of bike theft

Thames Valley Police (TVP) have since increased their patrol of the university areas and there is now a team of Police Community Safety Officers on campus.

On top of that there will be more police officers patrolling student areas throughout the security and safety week.

"For example on our night bus we have two police officers who will be on that night bus as it drops off," says Ms Davies.

While exact crime figures on campus aren't available according to Ms Davies, the amount of incidents has halved in the last two years, partly thanks to the presence of the university's own security department.

But the university is also keen to make students more street savvy through a week-long series of talks.

From Monday October 8 until Friday October 12 advisors will be on hand to talk to staff and students about reducing the risk of becoming a victim of crime while out and about on campus and also while out in Reading town and surrounds.

Sally Pearman, Students' Union president, says: "It's making sure they don't walk home from town alone, making sure they used registered taxis, knowing your own limitations.

"The time when things get dangerous is when if the student gets drunk and they're on their own, so we're advising them to stay out in groups and that if they've had enough to drink that it's fine to say no, you don't have to keep drinking."

And the alcohol advice doesn't end there.

Ms Pearman says: "We've got drinks testing kits, and on all our pint glasses we've got information about how many units of alcohol are in the drink, reminding them how they're going to get home, how much they've had to drink, just to raise awareness that they've got to look after themselves."

Students Union staff have also come up with a novel idea to raise awareness of burglary.

"We've got these big massive hands," says Ms Pearman, "and when we go to halls of residences and we see a window or a door open we just stick on there to remind them that although we're not a thief someone could have come in their room at that point and stolen from them."

Students living off campus should also be aware that they're a prime target for burglars.

Ms Pearman says: "Students who live in multiple residency houses are often a victim of crime because if you imagine in a normal house you've got one computer and one TV; you go to a student's house and you've got five laptops and TVs in every room."

The security and safety week follows a successful campaign last year to educate students in crime prevention. 

Ms Davies says: "We would like this year's new students to enjoy their time at Reading and when they eventually leave us, to have happy memories unmarred by criminality."