Glasgow seeks to keep new students safe

The dedicated zones are located in common routes taken by students to and from their home, university and/or the city centre and will provide assistance if and when needed. Students will be able to wait or visit if they feel vulnerable in any way.

With the support of local businesses, the participating premises will display a ‘Help Zone’ sticker or poster on their window or door indicating that it is part of the scheme.

Chief Inspector Hilary Sloan said: “Being in a new city can seem extremely daunting. Unfortunately, students, some unfamiliar with the city, can often be targeted by opportunistic thieves as they tend to carry portable, often valuable items, such as laptops, iPads and mobile phones.

“The Help Zones are not a replacement for the emergency services, they are locations to assist students by providing shelter and facilities for example, calling a taxi, calling a friend, contacting the police or just waiting until the problem passes.”

Community Safety Glasgow (CSG) enjoys a unique status in the UK in that it is a charity with two members, Glasgow City Council and The Scottish Police Authority.

By working in partnership on a wide range of crime prevention, antisocial behaviour and community safety issues, it can make a real difference to communities across Glasgow.

Gary Paterson, President of Strathclyde Students’ Union said: “We are delighted to support this innovative initiative from Police Scotland.

“The safety of students on our campus and across the city need particular attention and focus, and providing helpful spaces where students can approach trusted bodies for support will go a long way to keeping Glasgow safe and student friendly.”

There is also a dedicated website: www.studenthelpzone.co.uk where students can log on for further information in how to keep themselves safe.