Student Victimisation
Reporting Of Crime
If fellow students come to you regarding a crime being committed, there are a number of things to consider:
• You should report the incident to your Security Department.
• The student should be encouraged to report the incident to the Police.
• Students should also be encouraged to report all other crime related issues to the Police.
• If a student does not want to report an incident to the Police or it is just a case of observing suspicious behaviour, the Police will still benefit from local intelligence. You may need to explore if there are protocols on third party reporting of incidents.
• Seemingly trivial incidents could form part of a much bigger problem campus wide. Reporting will enable the Police and Security Team to build up a much better picture of what is happening at your institution.
• There is a general view that much student crime goes unreported. Get crime reported and help to get something done about it!
• If you build up a good relationship with your Security Team and your Police Liaison Officer, it will be much easier to speak to someone you already know.
Crimes can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers. Telephone: 0800 555 111
Home Office advice on reporting a crime can be found at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/victims/reporting-a-crime/
If fellow students have been victimised and are seeking help to cope with the effects of crime, they can contact Victim Support. They provide free and confidential support and information to help deal with the bad experience. Telephone 0845 30 30 90 or http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
If fellow students have been subjected to sexual violence, assault or rape, they can get information about how to access support and help from Rape Crisis. Telephone 0115 900 3560 or http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/
An example
The University of Sunderland operates a “Campus Watch” scheme, which involves direct links between the local police and the students, to encourage them to report crimes, anonymously if they so wish. The website contains a great deal of information for students about how to keep safe, including details of the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Sunderland run by the organisation, REACH: http://my.sunderland.ac.uk/web/support/campuswatch/ahome?ahome
There is an online reporting site for non-emergency crime reporting available at: www.online.police.uk/english/default.asp
Remember In an emergency always dial 999.
Last update: Last update: Friday, January 26, 2007