Huddersfield students have a safer start at university this term, after the launch of extra police patrols on campus and digital safety advice have become available, ultimately to make women feel safer on campus.
The University of Huddersfield have collectively worked with kirklees police in order to provide students with a service on enjoying the student lifestyle whilst remaining safe.
A week long focus conducted by Kirklees Police and university colleagues was put into place in an effort to highlight women’s safety and some initiatives alongside it.
Police officers in Huddersfield have now directed reassurance patrols across the campus, alongside being present on the regularly used routes to the university itself, student halls and the local area.
The night safety bus team from Change Grow Lives CHART Kirklees drug and alcohol service are available to help students feel confident in reporting any cases of sexual harassment and now provide a safe space for those who need it on a night out.
At the university’s welcome fair at the beginning of term, students have been given a safety and advice card, with opportunity to speak with police attending the fair.
A digital poster will also be projected across a university campus building this week to advise students about services they can access and work to reduce violence against women and girls.
digital posters
The new safety drive follows on from a similar sustained package of work to make women and girls safer last autumn, which as credited with reducing the number of offences targeted against women in the Kirklees district.
Funding has been provided by the University of Huddersfield in order for police operations to remain running on and around campus.
Superintendent Helen Brear of Kirklees Police, said: “I want to thank our partners at the University of Huddersfield for continuing to take such a strong and active stance on student safety.
“We have again worked very closely with them in 2023 to deliver what has now become a really broad package of measures to welcome new students to Huddersfield and make them aware of the help and support available to help them have a safer time in Kirklees.
“We hope the new students really enjoy their time here and want to make them aware Kirklees Police is here to support them during their stay.
She added: “Our wider work will also continue across this week to make women and girls safer in Kirklees and target those wanted for offending against women.
“West Yorkshire Police operates a zero tolerance policy regarding violence against women offending and we always encourage victims to report any and all offending.”
