School of something FACULTY OF OTHER RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

Crime Levels & Burglaries in University Cities & Towns 1800 1618 1600

Working to improve student safety in Leeds

1512 1329

1400

1312

1307

1281

1194

C 1200 r 1000 i m 800 e s 600

1091

Crime Level Burglary Level

400

Mike Leonard

296

275

200 38

Chair, Leeds Universities & Colleges CRP (LUCCRP)

104

44

98

69

38

31

University Cities/Towns Source: National Police Crime Web-Site (April 2011)

Leeds University Union Community Officer

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The City of Leeds

Importance to students

Consecutive national & local student accommodation surveys consistently highlight that one of the most important single i l iissues iin accommodation d ti ffor th those surveyed was:

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Population: 715,000, of which 9 – 10 % are students

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Approx 20% of population live in areas which are among the 10% most deprived in the country.

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L d b Leeds burglary l rates t h have b been cited it d as ‘thi ‘third d highest in the UK’ by BBC (24th April 2011).

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Students traditionally centred on NW Leeds, are now found in the three areas of the City.

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The Leeds Private Rented Housing Strategy 2009-2012 Action Plan highlights the provision of support/advice to landlords/tenants to promote/enhance security measures to assist in reducing domestic burglary and opportunistic crime.

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The Safer Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy 2011-2015 identifies students as potential ‘attractors’ to criminals.

Security or Safety Source: UoL Student Accommodation Survey 2011

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Monitoring crime levels in University Residences

Instigating crime reduction measures

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In 2004, there were 185 combined burglary/theft incidents recorded on University residential sites, and this reduced to 43 in 2010.

This primarily consists of five key strands:

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Considerable time & effort has been spent in increasing Security staff; improving physical building security measures; educating students; and working with partners in improving effectiveness.

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2009/10: The most significant crimes committed on University residential sites were burglary/theft (47%); possession of drugs (21%); and criminal damage (15%).

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22

97

0

Paul Gold

•

87

Despite reducing burglaries in University Residences, the threat of burglary still remains significant across Leeds, and in the student areas of NW Leeds, and therefore highlighting the threat of burglaries to students still remains a high priority.

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Planning & Coordination – Multi-agency involvement through Crime Reduction Partnership

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Physical – Target hardening of properties

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Personnel – Recruitment and budgetary provision

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Communication – Provision of bespoke crime prevention advice

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Audit & Review – Annual review & Secured Environment accreditation

HOWEVER, in spite of the known threat, it is still common for students to leave doors and windows insecure, and this requires a variety of approaches in highlighting the issue to students, when it has previously accounted for up to sixty percent of burglaries in the area.

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Planning & Coordination – Crime Reduction Partnership

Physical measures – target hardening

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Comprises Leeds College of Art & Design; Leeds Met; Leeds College of Music; Park Lane College; The University of Leeds; Leeds Trinity; respective Students’ Unions; West Yorkshire Police; British Transport Police; Leeds City Council (Safer Leeds & Statutory Housing Service); and Unipol Student Homes.

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Key annual incidents are mapped on an annual time line line, which provides the basis for planning of initiatives, re: resource allocation and communication activities.

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p external lighting g g Improved

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CCTV installation

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Crime statistics are monitored monthly, to identify and particular trends/new issues requiring attention.

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Emergency call-points

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Reflective window film

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Ideas, experiences, and information are shared between partners, and all partners benefit from this multi-agency approach.

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Anti-climb paint

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Sep 2007 saw the launch of the Knowledge Campaign & Web-site, which provides key crime prevention info & advice in a Leeds-specific context, for anyone that wishes to access the site, in order that they can make informed decisions.

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Clearance of overgrown shrubs

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Implementation of site security plans for ANUK Code of Standards

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Improved door & window systems

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Perimeter & gate access controls

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New signage

In addition, looking ahead, partners will be involved in delivering key actions from the new Leeds Burglary Strategy 2011-2015.

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Personnel measures Communication West Yorkshire Police provide: •

E-intro

Several officers associated with Student Safety in Leeds.

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Stay Safe, Stay Secure’ booklet

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3 x NPT areas that include the main campuses & residences.

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Welcome talks in Sep

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Crime prevention drop-in surgeries on residential sites.

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Posters

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RCS staff, sub-wardens & Security staff, (incl Residences Watch)

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In addition, University Security Services provide: •

Campus Watch

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Bespoke security services focussed on residential sites.

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Visible security presence on sites off-Campus, from 5.00 pm – 4.00 am.

Residences & Security websites

•

Residences e-mail alerts

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Varied patrol patterns and times, to deter criminals.

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Site specific visits

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Support to Wardens, sub-wardens and night time staff on residential sites.

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KNOWLEDGE web-site, as from Sep 2007

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Good practice crime prevention advice to students.

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An emergency escort for vulnerable students.

Crime Prevention & Personal Safety virals/films, as from Sep 2009

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Secured Environment Accreditation (awarded March 2009)

Crime Statistics on University Residential Sites 2004-2011 180 160 140 120 Assault

100

Burglary Criminal Damage Theft

80

ToMV/TfMV Cycle Crime

60 40 20 0 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2

KNOWLEDGE

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Student Satisfaction with Security in UoL Residences:

Student surveys suggested that students: •

Wanted appropriate and succinct info on crime prevention issues.

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Wanted info on the crime statistics in their area.

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Felt that there was an over-provision of information, that was sometimes confusing.

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Appreciated info that was delivered in a peer-topeer approach, rather than by institutions.

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Wanted a single brand approach, that was easy to identify, and easily accessible.

Contact: [email protected]

Contact: [email protected] (Source: UoL Student Accommodation Survey 2011)

Priorities established in 2009/10:

1.

Website overhaul

2.

Balloon Campaign

3 3.

Going international

4.

Virals and videos

5.

Knowledge week

6.

Neighbourhood Watch Student Coordinators

Reaching out…

If you see a black balloon…

Knowledge Viral and Videos

1. http://www.youtube.com/user/KnowledgeLeeds#p/a/u/0/IYM rnsupd18 2. http://www.youtube.com/user/KnowledgeLeeds#p/a/u/1/V0t Be2oj6WE

3

Knowledge Event

Neighbourhood Watch Student Coordinators

Sustaining the campaign Securing funding for more

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2009/10:

Using technology to combat crime

£ 75k funding received from The Home Office, from the Safer Homes Fund, for a period of 9 months

• ‘Capture House’ set up by West Yorkshire Police, using Smart Water and/or CCTV to identify burglars.

Outcomes:

Proportion of in-secure burglaries falls from 60% (2008/09) to 43% (2009/10)

• Tracker Bikes introduced by WYP & Universities’ Universities Security Teams Teams, to identify thieves & other third parties.

No. of insecure burglaries falls by 42%, from 541 (2008/09) to 313 (2009/10) Burglaries committed against students falls by 20%, from 905 (2008/09) to 720 (2009/10)

• Computrace tracker software introduced by WYP in laptops to identify thieves & other third parties, has contributed to a 50% decrease in stolen laptops from students, 791 (2009) to 397 (2010).

2011/12: Spencer Properties, agree to sponsor The Knowledge Campaign for over £ 50k, over 3 years

• Emphasis on registering all electrical equipment on the www.immobilise.com web-site, so Police can check recovered items & return to their original owners.

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Key lessons learnt

Student Burglaries in NW Leeds

• The importance of the issue to students, especially after they or a friend have been directly affected – 1 in 5 students are affected by crime @ Leeds.

1200 1041 1000 B u r g l a r i e s

940 864

860 796

800

651

• The importance of partnership working working, i.e. i e no one party can successfully address all the issues.

626

600

Total

400 229

• The need to maintain regular communications with all stakeholders – It never stops!

200

• Need to prioritise works, possible through a risk assessment approach

0 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

• Need to commit resources; be flexible in approach; and to review annually to assess impact.

N.B. 40% reduction in burglaries committed against students 2004-2010

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Additional sources of crime reduction info:

Home Office

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www.police.uk/crime

Knowledge

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www.knowledge-leeds.co.uk

Secured Environments

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www.securedenvironments.com

Leeds City Council

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www.saferleeds.org.uk

University of Leeds

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[email protected]

Leeds University Union

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[email protected]

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