www .concrete-online.co.uk
Issue 118 路Wednesday, November 15, 2000
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By CHARLOTTE RONALDS
Chief News Reporter
STUDENT SAFETY is being dangerously compromised, with Porters Lodge staffing levels running as low as only two guards a shift three lower than the University's own minimum level. Security services were stretched to breaking on Saturday, November 4, the night of the annual fireworks display at Earlham Park and a sell-out James concert in the LCR, with up to 25,000 people buzzing around campus. Only three security guards were scheduled to work that evening - but one phoned in sick, forcing Security Manager Barry Jeckyll to come in and provide emergency cover.
routine patrols could be carried out, and dozens of buildings were left unlocked all night.
Unlocked
Union Welfare Officer, Pally Morgan, is angry that student safety was put at risk. "With so many people walking around and Norwich people coming along for the James concert, you do have quite an obtrusive presence." "Although we do unde(stand that staff situations can't be helped, I also think it's unfortunate that they didn't have people on ," she moaned. The staffing issue is so bad that the
But all three were desk bound - either monitoring traffic from Porters Lodge or checking the campus CCTV network in the Estates Building, meaning that no
Risk
three new security guards - as well as a new security boss after Campus Services Manager, Mike Stamford, quit his job earlier this month. Even the University's Security Coordinator, Ron Elliott, admitted that the situation was dire. "We've only got so many [porters] anyway. We don't have a little box that we can go to and pull new security guards out from", he pointed out. But despite the chaos UEA's Director of Estates Richard Goodall, refused to speak to Concrete, claiming that he had other issues to address which were of more of a priority. UEA spokesperson Fiona Grant explained, "Our security staffing is organised to meet the needs of the students and staff on campus. The numbers on duty will vary according to circumstances."
Burglaries But in the light of a recent clutch of burglaries, students reckon circumstances demand more than three porters a shift. "it's bad because people could just wander into residences. I don't like the idea of strangers wandering around campus in general ," worried Claire Bentley (SOC4).
SECURITY WORRIES have been further heightened after a student was left with severe injuries when he became the target of an alleged assault. A 27-year-old male resident of Waveney Terrace was involved in the apparently unprovoked attack just outside the residences on Saturday evening, and was left needing five stitches, writes Katie Hind. The offender headbutted the foreign student twice during the attack, which happened around 6.20pm. The police arrested a suspect, a youth who lives locally, just forty minutes later. He is due to appear today at Norwich Magistrates Court to face charges.
Curfew The attack happened as security chiefs faced outcry over shortstaffing at Porters Lodge, and despite a decision to impose a 6pm curfew on the gate on to campus at Orwell Close. Security manager Barry Jeckell defended his staff, claiming that they did the best they could to catch the attacker.
"The security staff do the best they can, the way they reacted to the incident and the way it was dealt with shows that. They always react in the best way possible to keep everyone as safe as they can", insisted Mr Jeckell. Argued Jon Young (DEV 1) "Closing the Orwell gate might stop a few people from getting in, but if you want to get onto campus you still can. it's not going to prevent thieving" And Mark Robinson (EAS 1) agreed that there was substitute for more patrols. "We need more security up here, if a few of them got caught then it would probably scare them off, they are only kids ," he stormed.