Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Loughborough University’s students can receive advice on how to keep safe while living off campus and how to build positive relationships with local residents. This is being organised by the Charnwood Community Safety Partnership on the 13^th and 14^th October.

Advice will be given on how to secure their student residences, bike security and selectaDNA kits for marking property. The Community Safety Partnership which consists of many key agencies including the Police, Charnwood Borough Council and Fire Service will also be giving out information for students on issues such as recycling and the SSHH campaign which encourages students to be considerate to other residents when returning home at night.

The Partnership has produced a Top 10 Tips leaflet for students, many of whom are living off campus for the first time, about how to live responsibly in the local community. The leaflet also advises students on issues of Council tax, parking permits and rubbish collections.

Cllr. David Snartt said: “It is so important that we acknowledge the issues faced by both residents and students at the beginning of the academic year. It is a vulnerable time for students arriving in Loughborough, therefore by engaging and providing information on crime prevention and personal safety measures we aim to reassure them that we care for their wellbeing within their new environment. It is also important that they recognize their impact on the wider community and we are pleased that both the University and Students Union are working hard to encourage acceptable behaviour.”

Inspector Tim McCabe, Commander of Loughborough local policing unit, said; “We are pleased to be working with our partners to encourage students to be good neighbours and have consideration for other residents living in and around the town. We know that students can be victims of crime, particularly burglary, and that the majority of these crimes can be easily avoided if doors and windows are locked, bikes secured and property post coded, so this initiative is designed to get as much crime prevention information out to students who live off campus as we can.”

Loughborough Students Union said: “The safety of Loughborough Students living in the community is one of our main priorities. We are working with local residents, the university and Charnwood Borough Council to develop new initiatives such as this which ensure a cohesive approach to student welfare in the community. Our campaigns such as the ‘SSHH’ campaign and ‘Nightbus’ are specifically targeted to these students. We support the council’s efforts to highlight the importance of student safety and advice for community students.”

Information will be provided by Community Safety Team in the Community Safety Trailer on:

Monday 13 October between 9.00am to 4.00pm at St. Peters, Loughborough and Tuesday 14 October between 9.00am to 4.00pm at Sharpley Road, Loughborough near the shops.