Bournemouth University has revealed that more than
two hundred students were the subject of anti-social behaviour
complaints last year.
Of the two hundred and four dealt with, 159 got
an initial warning letter, 20 were interviewed with no further
action, and 23 got fines of between £50 and £75.
Twelve students appealed against their fines, but
the appeals were not upheld.
Statements from Bournemouth University and the
Arts University College Bournemouth over student anti-social behaviour
11 October 2011
University Head of Student Services Mandi Baron
has issued the following statement in connection with student
anti-social behaviour:
“As residents appreciate the majority of University
and College students integrate well and make a valuable contribution
to the local community. However we appreciate that some people,
including students, may engage in anti-social behaviour.
The University and Arts University College Bournemouth are working
hard in partnership with the Police and Environmental Health to
tackle student anti social behaviour, however in order to deal
with individual perpetrators we need to be able to identify who
they are and to have the evidence that they have created a nuisance.
If residents are experiencing difficulties they
should call Environmental Health on 01202 451145 or alternatively
the new 101 non emergency police number at the time that the nuisance
is occurring. The authorities will take the appropriate action,
and will refer serious cases to the university or AUCB for consideration
under our disciplinary procedures. If the situation is not resolved
Environmental Health or the police should be called again.”
AUCB Head of Student Services
Heidi Cooper-Hind issued this statement:
At the Arts University College
we receive daily reports about noise disturbance or anti social
behaviour from the police and environmental health patrols. We
write personally to every AUCB student to warn them about their
conduct, and a member of the Universities Safer Neighbourhood
Team visits the household the following day. In the (few) instances
of repeat offences, the University College takes disciplinary
action against the student . At AUCB we have few incidents of
repeat offences, and it has only been necessary to take disciplinary
action once in each of the past two years.
I personally inform all of our new students each
year that house parties and community disturbance will lead to
disciplinary action, and also highlight that our own procedures
are in addition to the steps taken by the community services such
as the police and environmental health teams, including noise
abatement notices.
Over the past few years both universities, Bournemouth
Borough Council, Dorset Police, local councillors, community representatives
and members of the Winton Forum have worked very hard to address
the issue of student noise or anti-social behaviour. We haven’t
managed to figure out a way to completely stop young people having
parties, but we will continue to work hard to provide a robust
response to bad behaviour, and to promote positive relationships
between students and the local community.
Student Noise warnings
Students will now be handed standard letters from
the Police/University if their house is the subject of a complaint
about noise or anti-social behaviour. The first letter is a warning
and the second advises them that action will be taken against
them.
Here is the text of the second "action"
letter:
Dear Student,
Complaint
It has been brought to the attention of Dorset
Police Universities Safer Neighbourhood Team/ Environmental Health
that complaint(s) have been raised which concern unacceptable
antisocial behaviour at your address.
You should be aware that the Dorset Police Universities
Safer Neighbourhood Team, Bournemouth University, the Students'
Union and Environmental Health continually endeavour to ensure
good relations in the local community and matters which compromise
this are taken very seriously.
Please be advised that action which otherwise
damages the University or its reputation constitutes misconduct.
This matter is now being referred to Bournemouth University, who
will be in contact with you in accordance with the Student Disciplinary
Procedures for a preliminary interview with the Director of Student
and Academic Services. The Student Disciplinary Procedures can
be found at: http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/student/welfare&conduct.
Should you have any queries regarding this
matter, please contact the Universities Safer Neighbourhood Team
on UniversitiesSNT@Dorset.PNN.Police.uk or the Complaints Co-ordinator
at Bournemouth University, Paula Peckham, on ppeckham@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Student volunteers show community spirit
Council neighbourhood worker Lucy Hurley got a pleasant surprise
when half a dozen students contacted her and volunteered to do
something for the community. She organised a litter pick and in
a very short time they had scooped up nine bags of litter from
roads in Winton. She says she was impresssed by their desire to
make their community a better place.
And now the Video!
Bournemouth students have been working in association with the
Police, Winton Forum and Bournemouth Council to produce a video
that deals with some of the "good/bad neighbour" issues
that can sometimes cause a problem. Here it is:
Uni sidesteps Planning Permission
Under present legislation any property let through
the University Letting Agency is exempt from planning permission.
The relevant legislation was originally created to
allow Universities to build and operate Halls of Residence for
its students without the planning restrictions that would apply
to a private landlord. Universities have taken advantage
of the loosely worded legislation to create their own letting
agencies which are outside the planning law.
Forum HMO Committee Chair Pat Oakley says,"I
know this sounds crazy and it is. They are making a lot of
money without paying tax because of their University status.
All I can say is that with any property let by the the BU letting
agency you must ensure the University and the Town Hall are kept
fully informed of any anti social behaviour or nuisance caused
by its residents."
"All of the legislation regarding HMOs is
under review at the moment and the result will be announced in
October. If we get the result we want, decisions on HMOs
including those let through the University will be taken locally.
This of course is by no means guaranteed and the Landlords lobby
is very strong. in the meantime I would suggest you lobby
your local Councillors and Member of Parliament."
Winton worst for student noise
31.07.10
A new council report pinpoints Winton as the worst
place in Bournemouth for student noise.
The Environmental Services document says that during
the course of the 2009-2010 academic year they dealt with 129
cases - 90 involving student houses. Of the remainder, a significant
proportion were directed at the Okeford House hall of residence
in Crimea Road. The total number of complaints was up by 25% on
the previous year, but part of the increase is believed to be
the result of increased awareness among residents that they now
had official channels of complaint.
Winton Community Forum has responded to the Council's
consultation on Bournemouth's future with a detailled description
of the problems facing the area.
It stresses the effects of "studentification"
and growth in number of houses in multiple occupation.
from Patrick Oakley, the Forum's HMO Committee
chairman
I am really pleased with the number of people who
have posted on the Message Board relating to Student HMO Saturation
and at the same time it is depressing that so many people are
suffering. Many of you have been asking about meetings and what
actions need to be taken to redress the HMO student balance to
an acceptable level. I acknowledge this concern and on behalf
of the Forum want to tell you what has been going over the last
three weeks.
During last month your Forum Committee has been
hard at work lobbying support for our cause. The Forum has set
up a sub-committee specifically focused on the HMO issue. Three
weeks ago Anson Westbrook and I met with representatives of the
University. This has resulted in the Students Union attending
the recent Carnival where they canvassed local opinion regarding
the impact students are having on the area. Additionally they
are in the process of preparing a 'volunteer programme' where
they hope to improve the perception of Students in Winton. This
will have little impact on the number of HMOs but we welcome all
positive action.
We have attended the Launch of the Core Strategy
Consultation which is part of the process that will determine
planning policy for the years ahead. www.bournemouth.gov.uk/corestrategy
It is really important that we all respond to this consultation,
the closing date for your response is 13th August. I will provide
more information on this subject later.
The new legislation on HMOs is currently in the
process of a Snap Consultation with the Minister Grant Shapps.
The present confusion on the law regarding HMOs will not be resolved
until central government concludes this process. Yesterday we
met our local Member of Parliament, Conor Burns MP. He was very
sympathetic to our cause and has promised to place a question
to the Minister in Westminster Hall supporting the need for Student
HMOs to be effectively regulated. He has also promised to raise
the matter with our local councillors. As a result of yesterday's
meeting I believe we have our local MP very much on our side and
willing to step up and say so where it matters.
We have had several responses to the Forum from
people who live outside of 'Winton East' but who are living with
severe problems because of Student HMO saturation. We welcome
everybody who is suffering from Student HMO Saturation.
In the next few weeks we intend to hold a Public
Meeting. We will invite our Council to make a presentation on
'The Core Strategy' and how it affects people living in and around
Winton. Your local Councillors will also be invited to attend
and your MP has promised to attend. We are in the process of finalising
the date and venue and will let you know as soon as possible.
I am in daily contact with the National HMO Lobby
searching for ideas which could be relevant to Winton.
If you have felt over the last few weeks that you
have been without the support of your Forum Committee, I apologise.
I hope you will agree we have been very active behind the scenes
but perhaps haven't done so well in communicating that to everybody.
We will try to keep you better informed in future.
