University of Liverpool students have been offered personal security support following two reports of assault on campus.
Students and staff are encouraged to use a chaperone service after a postdoctoral researcher from the university was hospitalised and left in need of emergency surgery following an assault on the Crown Place area of campus on November 16th.
Another person was attacked by a group of youths on bikes in the same area a week later on November 23rd.
One member of the University Campus Support Team also suffered minor injuries when attempting to detain a suspect in the assault.
Syd Cottle, Director of Estates Management at University of Liverpool, said: “I must stress that incidents of this kind are rare and it is extremely unusual for two such incidents to take place in a short space of time.
“We recognise that some staff and students may feel vulnerable when working or studying at night, particularly when returning to their campus accommodation or car. I would like to remind everyone that we operate a chaperone service where staff or students can ask the campus support team to accompany them to their car or accommodation.”
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“We have a proactive and vigilant Campus Support Team across campus, as well as in and around our halls of residence, in order to support a safe and secure crime-free environment for the university community.
“We have increased our security patrols of the area – particularly around Crown Place – and the Campus Police Officer has adjusted his hours to support our patrols and provide further reassurance to students and staff.”
Campus Police Officer Constable, Chris Sergeant, said: “I would like to assure the students and staff of the university that we are investigating both incidents and taking the matter extremely seriously.”