Universities have to face up to the issue of violence against students, an AUCSO conference heard.
Universities have to face up to the issue of violence against students, the AUCSO conference heard. Alan Millership of the University of Reading reported that he had come in for some criticism from non-security staff for being quoted (alongside Bernie Duncan) in a June article in The Guardian on education sector violence, where he pointed out that his previous employer, Nottingham Trent, stood opposite a large housing estate; hence attacks on students. Critics argued that the reputation of the university should be protected, but Alan Millership replied that students as adults should be able to make choices. He spoke of how Reading like other UK towns and cities has seen a recent explosion in the number of licenced premises – euphemistically called the ’24-hour economy’. Students are going to nightclubs, and are getting attacked. The Reading Students’ Union is setting up its own nightclub, and employs 35 stewards for its own events. He quoted a Mori poll early this year that found one in five students is a victim of crime while an undergraduate. Such violent crime is only in line with the national trend of a rise in reported violence. Alan Millership reported he is finding more violence by females on other females, triggered by drinking. ‘Females are a lot more aggressive. My staff are having to deal with aggressive females on campus.’
John Butler of the University of Birmingham (who was applauded for his MBE for services to further education) reported on training. He chairs an AUCSO sub-committee, whose members include Jim Ingram (Edinburgh), Forrest Baker (Oxford), Maureen Mills (Reading), Chris Primrose (Bristol) and Susan Rex (Birmingham). The aim is to seek common standards for security training from basic officer training to security management. The sub-committee does not want to interfere with universities’ own security training, but is looking towards certificates. The association has had talks with the Security Industry Training Organisation, but John Butler pointed out that SITO is not the only training organisation. There is, for example, John Butler said, an ‘excellent’ Tavcom Training course for control room operators. (Tavcom were among the exhibitors at the conference.) Universities have security specialisms, he added, such as dealing with terrorism and animal rights protesters, and explosive devices, besides ethnic issues and drugs, which are not much included in SITO courses, he said. SITO is a profit-making body, he pointed out, whereas university security departments are aiming for training of staff. John Butler restated the case for such training – the security industry is being bombarded by legislation, for example in manned guarding and data protection, and security staff whose presence was once enough are required to be computer-literate and have other skills. He mentioned the need for a record of how basically-trained staff progressed, as in nursing. Given regulation, even though in-house guarding was exempt, the key was to work with a national training organisation, whether SITO or another such as the NCFE.<br><br>
Brian Mole, Head of Security for the conference hosts, the University of Sheffield, reported on how security officers are doing more community liaison work. University vice-chancellors, he suggested, are happy with security as long as it isn’t noticed. He mentioned the danger that security staff may be given other duties such as delivering the mail and vacuuming carpets – a security department only being re-formed if security problems resurface. A backdrop to such fears for quality of service is the drive towards privatisation in the education sector. Sheffield is among institutions handing its halls of residence – including Halifax Hall, the conference venue – to private sector facilities management firms, who provide services including security.
