SU Security Review Update

Led by Maia Jarvis (SU President 2022/23), last January, we ran the SU Security Survey where we asked about your experience in our late-night venues (SU Venue, Medicine and The Packhorse). After analysing your feedback, our Student Voice team created a Student Insight Report on SU Security which included a list of recommendations.

In my manifesto, I promised to champion the implementation of recommendations from the SU Security Review. Over the summer and during this term, I have led an SU Security Review working group. This group includes SU staff members from our Trading and Marketing & Communications team.

I know how important student safety is to you and I’m really excited to be delivering on this manifesto point! Do have a read of what we’ve been up to and what we have planned...

What have we been up to?

• Increased roster numbers so there is a permanent member placed outside Medicine and the SU Venue Nightclub during events to help disperse non-attendees collecting outside those spaces.
• Explored and provided the current security teams with further Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training.
• Produced a Students’ Union complaints form similar to the RH Be Heard form.
• Created a permanent page on the Students’ Union website ‘Keeping You Safe’. This page lists all our current processes regarding security and safety at our venues. In particular, our bag and person check policies, anti-spiking measures, our involvement with PubWatch, our guest policy, our CCTV policy and a link to the complaints form.
• Regular comms at the start of each term on our social media accounts and within our weekly all student email about ways they can be safe in our venues when attending an event. Highlighting anti-spiking measures currently in place at our venues and the Good Night Out Crew’s purpose and location.

So, what’s next?

• We’re currently testing searching 100% of customers including bag and body checks attending an event at the SU Venue and Medicine with a set review date to see whether this positively impacts student experience in our venues.
• We will also be implementing annual refresher training on spiking for all Venue Managers and, if possible, Duty Managers. In the meantime, our Venue Managers have completed SOS UK’s Alcohol Awareness and Spiking training.
• We have also been researching additional technology that would aid in making students feel safer when attending an event at one of our venues or in the local community.

The following recommendations will be followed up in the NeverOk campaign which is focused on tackling sexual harassment and misconduct.

• Increasing awareness of sexual harassment in late-night venues and the impacts it has on students.
• We will also be reviewing our current policy around dealing with incidents of sexual harassment and assault. Following this review, the Students’ Union will publish the findings on the website and signpost any changes to the existing policy.

I hope this update reassures you of the behind-the-scenes work that is happening to ensure you feel as safe as possible in our venues.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at president@su.rhul.ac.uk.