Thursday, November 5, 2009
A groundbreaking scheme is giving thousands of students living in Leeds the chance to play a vital role in combating crime in local communities.
Leeds University Union has won more than £70,000 of funding from the Home Office Safer Homes Fund to set up the crime-busting scheme and to expand the ongoing student safety campaign Knowledge.
It made the bid as part of Leeds Universities & Colleges Crime Reduction Partnership, which includes representatives from the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds Trinity University College, Leeds College of Music, students’ unions, West Yorkshire Police, Leeds City Council and Unipol Student Homes.
A team of 12 student Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators has been created to run the schemes, which cover the main student areas along ‘the A660 corridor’ as well as student accommodation in the city centre.
They will act as a link between the students and permanent residents of those communities and the police in what is believed to be the first such scheme of its kind in the country.
Given that 60 per cent of burglaries of student homes are ‘sneak-ins’ where thieves have got in through unlocked doors and windows, one of their main aims will be to encourage people to follow basic crime prevention advice to avoid becoming a victim of burglary. They will also help people to tighten up their home security by giving them access to improved security measures.
They will circulate the latest police information and warnings about crime trends in their areas, and will accompany members of their local neighbourhood policing teams on patrol to highlight local issues and liaise directly with students and other residents.
Alongside their crime prevention role they will also promote good citizenship among the student community and be an additional point of contact for residents with any issues involving students.
Leeds is home to about 65,000 students, with the vast majority living in the areas being targeted by the new scheme.
Inspector Simon Jessup, who heads the North West Inner Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the thousands of students living in areas such as Headingley and Hyde Park to play a key role in helping to keep local communities safe, not just for fellow students but for all residents.
“Students can sometimes be unfairly judged because of the actions of a minority of them but I know the majority want to be good neighbours and have a real stake in the communities in which they live. This innovative scheme gives them a chance to join together with local residents to help cut crime and keep their communities safe while clearly demonstrating their good citizenship.
“I would encourage all students and other residents to get involved and help make the schemes a real success.”
Mike Leonard, Chair of Leeds Universities & Colleges Crime Reduction Partnership, said: “Our Partnership has now been running since 2002, and whilst we have been successful in reducing crimes on our own sites, the next challenge has always been to help reduce crime that affects both students and residents in the areas of Inner North West Leeds. The provision of Home Office funding and the support of these student volunteers will help raise the profile of crime prevention in this area, and we look forward to working with all parties in improving the area for all concerned.”
Student Liaison Officer PC Carole Munsey, who is part of the North West Inner NPT, will be highlighting the new scheme as an example of good practice at the National Union of Students Crime Prevention Conference in Manchester next week.
Further information about the scheme and how to get involved is available online at www.knowledge-leeds.co.uk
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