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Universities Get Ready For Protests

Red and Black Route | 17.11.2010 18:10 | Education | Public sector cuts

The following text has been sent to all staff within a London University as general guidance in preparation for possible protests.


General Security Measures

1. Ensure protection of sensitive information through computer passwords, timed computer screen-locks and as far as possible maintain a clear desk policy. If it is not in use lock it away
2. Ensure all office doors are secured when the office/room os not in use
3. Ensure windows remain locked when the office in not in use
4. Never leave valuables, purses or wallets on desks. Keep them on you
5. Keep secure cabinets locked when not in use and keys on you
6. Lock away personal letterhead and business card

Personal Safety

1. Individual staff should not engage/debate with protestors and if offices are occupied should immediately collect coats and bags and leave their office and contact their line manager
2. If anyone is threatened during occupancy the Police must be called straight away
3. If anyone is detained by protestors against their will the Police must be called straight away
4. Security staff should not engage/debate with protestors
5. In the event of a major occupation, the affected areas should be vacated and only the designated university representative and police should enter

Security Service/Occupancy considerations

1. Peaceful protests such as non-intimidating picketing and leafleting should be allowed and will not lead to disciplinary action. However, breaches of the Student Code of Conduct or of Staff Disciplinary Procedures are likely to lead to disciplinary action for both staff and students. In particular, disciplinary action is likely to be taken in the case of:

• Postering that could damage facilities
• Interruption of teaching or other academic activities
• Bullying, intimidation or hate-mongering
• Mischievous activation of fire call points

2. if damage/vandalism is caused as a result of occupancy the Police must be informed and restitution will be pursued
3. Breaches of Health and Safety during the course of an occupation should not be tolerated and may be grounds for removal of protestors

Red and Black Route

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Misuse of health and safety

17.11.2010 18:56

"Breaches of Health and Safety during the course of an occupation should not be tolerated and may be grounds for removal of protestors"

What a load of crap, H&S rules aren't for getting rid of protesters they're designed to ensure the safety of employees and to allow them to take action against negligent bosses.

An observer


No, thats incorrect

17.11.2010 19:50

>>> What a load of crap, H&S rules aren't for getting rid of protesters they're designed to ensure the safety of employees and to allow them to take action against negligent bosses.

Wrong. H&S applies to all people in a building. It doesn't matter whether they are an employee, student or visitor. If a student is doing something that is dangerous and could hurt others (eg. throwing a fire extinguisher off a roof), then the university and the authorities have a duty to prevent that from happening.

Likewise, if you just sit back and do nothin (ie. not at least inform the university or the police) whilst someone is doing something dangerous, and someone got hurt, then you could be held partially liable in a civil case.

match


Any clues...

17.11.2010 20:19

...on which London university this comes from?

D


Postering that could damage facilities ...

17.11.2010 23:48

This slightly unusual concern leads us to think it might be from Roehampton. We heard that around 120 posters that were pasted around campus the Monday before last were torn down there by order of management within an hour.

RoaR