Canterbury officers on hand to ensure students stay safe in Freshers’ Week
Kent Police is urging students arriving in Canterbury over the next week to enjoy studying responsibly as they embark on university life.
More than 35,000 students are expected to attend Canterbury’s three universities this year, with around 10,000 freshers arriving this month.
Extra patrols will be carried out in the city at key times between Saturday 18 September and Saturday 26 September 2021 to help keep those studying in the city safe.
Kent Police will also be working with partner agencies to reduce the chances of students becoming victims of crime and to reduce any impact on local residents.
Officers will attend the three main freshers’ fairs; Canterbury Christ Church University on Wednesday 22 September, the University of Kent on Thursday 23 September, and the University for the Creative Arts on Friday 24 September.
There will be opportunities for students to security mark their bikes both at freshers’ fairs this week and at events over the coming months. This will increase the chance of victims getting their bikes back if stolen.
A multi-agency safety hub will also be set up in St George’s Street between 7pm and 10pm on Thursday 23 September, where young people can get advice, ask questions, and receive a map which includes details of well-lit routes back to campus.
Once students are settled in, officers will be working with Canterbury City Council and Kent Fire and Rescue Service to visit students living in the area and share home and personal safety advice in October.
Inspector Guy Thompson, of the Canterbury Community Safety Unit said: ‘This year may feel very different for young people, with students returning to face-to-face learning and being able to go out and enjoy local bars and restaurants with limited restrictions.
‘We want to ensure Canterbury remains the safe and pleasant place it is for all to enjoy and our priority is maintaining the safety of local residents and the new and returning student population.
‘We are working closely with our universities based in Canterbury to ensure young people have a successful university experience and we encourage anyone who is a victim of crime to report it immediately to Kent Police.’