In just one month – October 2023 – there were 842 crimes reported in the Cathays area of Cardiff, a suburb of the South Wales capital known for its student population. Sadly, nearly half of these crime incidents had their investigations closed with no suspect identified, never mind prosecuted. According to UK Crime Stats, the Cathays area had 32.5 crimes reported per 100 residents in 2022, making it one of the worst student crime hotspots in the UK, and 31% of these crimes involved violence or sexual assault.
With thousands of students heading back to universities around the UK in September, and many leaving home for the first time, this highlights the need for additional security around university campuses and purpose-built student accommodation, and also puts universities in the spotlight, given their duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their students.
Why is student accommodation security so important?
Residents of student accommodation are particularly vulnerable to crime for a variety of reasons:
- They are young and this is often their first time away from home
- There are multiple residential units in close proximity in student accommodation
- Most students will have gadgets such as smartphones, watches, tablets, laptops and sometimes also vehicles
- Student campuses are busy spaces with many people coming and going all the time, making it hard to track who is authorised/not authorised to be on site
- Student life is largely centred around study, lectures and socialising, meaning many students leave their accommodation unattended during the day and evening, and can also fail to prioritise security.
Most student areas are situated in outer suburbs or busy city centres, and which have thriving night-time economies, so student accommodation is a specific target for crime, and the figures seen above for Cathay in Cardiff are not dissimilar to many other areas around the UK. With many parents waving goodbye to young students for the first time in September, it is important that universities recognise their responsibility for safeguarding students and put certain systems in place.
It is common for universities to provide facilities such as safe taxi and bus schemes, to ensure students always have an affordable and available transport system home to their accommodation, while student unions are also tasked with advising students on personal safety in and around campus. However, dedicated student accommodation security is becoming increasingly common, and figures such as those seen above suggest it needs to be seriously considered as the norm across all university campuses.
What is student accommodation security?
Student accommodation security can involve:
- Access control systems – Providing key fobs, cards and smartphone apps so only authorised students can access accommodation buildings
- CCTV systems – Full or partial site coverage with HD-quality CCTV technology
- Security guards – Static or mobile security guards with rapid response abilities
- Concierge services – Security guards who can patrol building entrances and perimeter grounds, but can also offer additional services such as mental health and pastoral support.
The student accommodation security services offered by First Response Group have successfully reduced crime figures in halls of residence and other purpose-built student accommodation complexes. They are able to directly safeguard students, while also acting as a visible deterrent to anti-social behaviour. So if you are managing or responsible for a student accommodation complex you need to recognise your duty to safeguard students in vulnerable situations, speak to First Response Group about student accommodation security today.
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