A new online toolkit for students has been devised and launched by the Home Office and the National Union of Students, with the aim of reducing crime against students in Universities and Colleges within England and Wales.
Some of the features of the "Student welfare toolkit", available to 750 student unions, are as follows:
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Deterring burglary of laptops and other expensive equipment.
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Protection against street crime.
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Advising fellow students of the best way to protect themselves.
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How to get help when needed.
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Ideas as to how Student Welfare Officers can raise awareness of student crime on their campuses.
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Advice for the running of crime prevention initiatives.
Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister, said:
"Being at university is one of the most exciting experiences anyone can have. But it can be spoiled by unexpected crime, which can be a devastating experience for someone living away from home for the first time.
"Young people aged 16 to 24 year old are around three times more likely to be victims of burglary than people in other age groups. Helping students with practical advice will help us to tackle that.
"That is why we have joined together with the NUS to produce this toolkit to help students protect themselves at this important time in their lives."I hope this toolkit will provide welfare officers with valuable information that they can pass on to fellow students throughout their time at university or college."
Veronica King, NUS Vice president Welfare, said:
"NUS is proud to present the Home Office "Student Welfare Toolkit".
"The Home Office and NUS have been working very hard to put together examples of best practice on how to keep crime down on campus and make students safer.
"Students come to university or college with their brand new laptops, and the latest i-pods, and personal safety is not usually their top priority, with the excitement of student life taking over.
"Unfortunately, 1 in 3 students becomes the victim of a crime each year at university.
"We hope students' unions will use the toolkit as a way to increase awareness of crime and make student life a crime-free experience."
The "Student Welfare Toolkit" can be accessed from the NUS Website by clicking the following:
Article by Alexandra Johnston
