News editor Bethan Jones investigates how Cardiff University is ensuring its students are staying safe around residences and reveals positive results.
A  recent NUS survey has revealed that the average weekly cost of halls of residence has increased by 97 per cent in the past decade, making it is essential that students are not only getting the best quality residences for their money, but that the University can ensure that students will feel safe whilst living there.
With this is mind, gair rhydd has investigated the level of crime taking place around Cardiff University campus, with pleasing results.
During the academic year of 2011/12, between September and August there were only 141 crimes reported on residence sites. This averages at fewer than 12 per month. Figures show two peak months in which incidents of crime were reported most frequently; October saw 25 reported crimes, which is more than likely related to the start of a new term and freshers season, and in March there were 20 reported crimes.
Theft constitutes the majority of crime taking place on Cardiff University premises; stolen pedal bikes accounted for 80 per cent of all crime throughout the last academic year.
The University Security Department provides a 24 hour, 365 days a year coverage across the University premises. As well as this, the University has invested many resources into installing more than 250 CCTV cameras which are monitored on a 24-hour basis by security staff. They are to provide reassurance, as well as prevent and detect crime, and have resulted in many arrests since they were installed.
One victim of crime at Talybont Court, second year English Literature student Claire Pritchard told gair rhydd: ÔÇ£My bike was stolen whilst I was at home during reading week. It was secured with a chain lock, but not one of the ÔÇÿD locksÔÇÖ recommended by the University. I thought that my bike would be safe because there is a CCTV camera pointing directly where bikes are locked in Talybont Court. When I returned after reading week to find it had been stolen, I assumed that security would be able to help me find who stole it with the CCTV footage. However, they told me that the camera would have recorded the theft but the camera roll is deleted every week.ÔÇØ
Despite the theft of her bike, Miss Pritchard did say that she felt secure in the halls of residence, and understood that often a crime such as bike theft is hard to prevent.
However, she also commented that a flatmate of hers during her first year at Cardiff had the wheels of his bike stolen: ÔÇ£After my flatmateÔÇÖs wheels were stolen off his bike, he kept it inside our flat, for fear of the same thing happening again, but security told him to remove it immediately or face being fined.ÔÇØ
Other common thefts on University premises include mobile phones and laptops. The thefts taking place at halls of residences tend to be opportunistic; it is mostly criminals taking advantage of windows being left open and items, such as laptops and mobile phones, being left unattended on display.
Student Liason Officer PC Tim Davies told gair rhydd that since October of this year, there has been an increase in the number of reported mobile phone thefts in bars and clubs around Cardiff city centre. PC Davies has said it is important for students to take great care of their possessions and to avoid placing any personal possessions on a bar or table when in a nightclub.
Assaults on students are extremely rare on University premises. A University spokesperson has said they believe this is ÔÇ£due to the excellent working relationships between University Security staff and the local policeÔÇØ.
A spokesperson for the University has commented on the issue of crime at Cardiff: ÔÇ£We strive to provide a safe and secure environment for students, staff and visitors to study, work and visit. We aim to reduce crime and the fear of crime as well as encouraging proactive crime prevention advice.ÔÇØ
The University has encouraged basic crime prevention actions to be taken seriously. These include securing windows, especially on the ground floor, not leaving personal property on display and being aware of your own personal safety. This will ensure the crime levels on Cardiff University premises are kept down.
The UniversityÔÇÖs Security Department works in close partnership with various local organisations, including the South Wales Police. Student Liason Officer, PC Tim Davies, as well as members of the local Neighbourhood Policing Teams, are actively involved in various crime prevention initiatives.
Recently, the partnership has seen various activities taking place to promote safety in Cardiff, with the intention of reducing crime; during FreshersÔÇÖ fortnight, joint patrols took place around the Cardiff University campus, and the StudentsÔÇÖ Union operated a mini bus to ensure vulnerable students got home safe.
Evening crime prevention walkabouts at student residential areas have also been taking place, in which students are spoken to about safety of their University halls, or their privately owned accommodation in Cathays.
PC Davies noticed that a lot of leaflets promoting safety around the city, which were posted through letterboxes tended to be added to the pile of other leaflets. In light of this, he came up with a new scheme promoting safety at student residences: ÔÇ£When we find an insecure door or window we inflate a balloon with helium gas and attach our information card to it which basically tells the occupier that if we are able to get an inflated balloon into the house then a burglar also can.
ÔÇ£We then knock the door and step away from the house to see what happens.┬á ItÔÇÖs quite funny seeing the students come to the front door holding the balloon as you can see they are a bit confused as to how it has got inside.
ÔÇ£Since the start of term this year we have put over twenty balloons into various insecure properties in the Cathays area.ÔÇØ
The balloons have the crime prevention logo printed on them, ÔÇ£Lock it, hide itÔÇØ.
PC Davies also added that the students he has spoken to following the balloon scheme liked the idea and felt it would get the message across to students to keep their property secure.
If any students should have any concerns with the safety of their houses or halls of residence or want any specific advice on crime prevention and safety advice, please contact PC Tim Davies, tim.davies@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
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