As universities and colleges across the UK welcome new and returning students to their campuses, it is a useful time for those involved in campus safety to consider how well their site is prepared to prevent and respond to crime and support student safety.

Campuses are complex places. Students, staff, contractors, visitors and members of the public can access buildings and spaces throughout the day and night, while social events and an increasing number of students commuting to their campus from remote accommodation sites can introduce additional risks.

Understand current threats and your day-to-day risks

Effective prevention starts with understanding what is happening across your campus and undertaking regular risk assessments to ensure preventative measures are focused where they are most needed and that procedures are understood. 

Review crime and incident data, reports from staff and students, and information from local police and national resources such as ProtectUK. Universities and colleges are telling us that they’re concerned about burglary, robbery and sexual assault, and that incidents of fraud are high amongst students.  Collaborate with national and local organisations that can help support student safety, building strong local relationships and partnerships to share information, knowledge and expertise.

Build a positive security culture

Someone who regularly works in a building is more likely to notice when something is different. It could be an unfamiliar person taking photos, an unusual vehicle, a door being propped open, or a behaviour that doesn’t fit the normal pattern.

Engaging with people using the campus and being aware of behavioural changes supports a positive security culture. This can start with something as simple as a ‘hello’ which signals to an individual that they’ve been noticed and opens the door to an initial conversation without safety team members putting themselves at risk. 

Know what 'normal' looks like

Lecturers, reception staff, cleaners, accommodation teams, facilities staff and security personnel will experience different aspects of campus life and notice different things during the course of their working day. 

Managers of campus safety teams can support the preparedness of their teams by encouraging them to be responsive to observations raised by others who use the campus, recognise potential threats and know when to escalate a concern.

For example, it may be normal for a contractor to arrive every weekday to do ongoing maintenance to a building but an unfamiliar team turning up at the weekend would be worth checking.

The visual security survey

Campus safety teams should be familiar with, and able to conduct, a visual security survey. This can include applying the HOT principle – considering whether something has been Hidden, is Obviously suspicious, or is Typical for the location or circumstance.

The ETHANE model provides a structured approach to communicating information during an incident: Exact location, Type of incident, Hazards, Access, Number of casualties, and Emergency services required.

Using recognised approaches, alongside tried and tested communications procedures and familiarity with the principles of emergency first aid, can help campus safety teams identify concerns and respond quickly and effectively when an incident develops.

How can the Academy help?

The Academy offers training that can support campus safety teams in building the knowledge and skills needed to identify threats, assess risk and respond effectively to incidents.

For managers with responsibility for protective security and preparedness, the Level 3 Award in Counter Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness, developed by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and SFJ Awards, provides a recognised qualification focused on strengthening an organisation’s ability to understand and mitigate the risks from terrorism.

Complementing this, the Academy offers the Level 3 vocational qualification in Prevention of Extremism and Terrorism (PET), accredited by ProQual and recognised by UK employers. This can help wider members of a campus safety team develop their understanding of potential threats and the role they can play in recognising and responding to concerns.

Together, appropriate training and preparedness can help strengthen the knowledge and confidence of those responsible for campus safety and contribute to a positive safety and security culture across the campus.