A unique scheme funded by the University of Warwick will provide "Street Marshals" on weekday nights in Leamington Spa for the rest of this academic year.

Warwick District Council, Warwickshire Police and SafetyNet Security Group have collaborated with the University and its Students’ Union in this initiative, which aims to help protect the University’s students after enjoying a night out, and to promote positive community relations by encouraging the students to behave responsibly whilst walking through residential areas.

The University has agreed to fund the Street Marshals scheme until the end of the summer term, at a total cost of £50,000, following a successful pilot carried out during the 2013 autumn term.

The Street Marshals scheme was devised in order to respond to concerns expressed by some South Leamington residents about noise disturbance coming from the street, as people return home from a night out, and because of evidence that suggests some students may get into difficulties after drinking heavily. Increasing numbers of Warwick University students have chosen to live in Leamington in recent years – in the last academic year, there were around 5,000 Warwick students living in the town, mostly in the South.

Warwick District Council has contracted with SafetyNet Security Group to provide the marshals. SafetyNet recruit and directly employ the marshals, who will are all licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), and fully trained. Warwickshire Police have given some powers to SafetyNet to enable the marshals to carry out their duties, under the Home Office’s Community Safety Accreditation Schemes (CSAS).

The main features of the Street Marshals

• Monday to Thursday inclusive from 11pm to 4am, up to 8 marshals (depending on anticipated need) will operate in areas of Leamington frequented by Warwick University students, to provide pastoral care and protection after they leave the pubs and clubs, and to encourage them to respect the interests of other residents as they return home; the marshals will patrol in pairs (one male, one female).
• The powers given to the marshals will apply to the police force area, rather than to certain types of individuals, and in practice they will respond to whatever situations they see in front of them, regardless of who they encounter. However, the marshals will only operate in areas and routes identified as popular with Warwick students.
• The marshals are trained to intervene early in any situation they face, as the existing town centre Street Marshals do now, and their pastoral activities will include making sure that vulnerable students get home safely and arranging medical treatment for people who are injured;
• The marshals begin each shift at WDC’s CCTV Operations Suite, but once they move on to the streets they have radios that allow immediate access to the WDC CCTV Control Room, other radio users including door-staff and the Police.
• The marshals wear clothing approved by the Chief Constable, which is different to Police and PCSO uniforms and includes the accreditation badge, and the logos of WDC and SafetyNet. The Marshalls carry one radio and one badge-cam per pair.
• This scheme is an extension of the existing Street Marshals scheme operated in Leamington by the South Warwickshire Community Safety Partnership (SWCSP) initially introduced to keep order at taxi ranks but now covering the town centre.
• The scheme is not designed to enable the University to take action against students, nor is it about responding to any incidents that occur within student housing.

Unique partnership

Councillor Michael Coker, Portfolio Holder for Health & Community Protection at Warwick District Council said, "This is a national first and a unique partnership. This would not have been possible without the financial commitment of the University, the support of the Chief Constable and the enthusiasm of the Students Union. This is an important part of our early intervention approach in making Royal Leamington Spa a safer place."

Ken Sloan, Registrar of the University of Warwick, said, "We have agreed to fund the Street Marshals scheme in order to support our students living in Leamington, and to respond positively to the concerns expressed by some members of the local community. The scheme is one of a number of investments the University is making in Leamington, to the benefit of students and other residents."

Superintendent Debbie Tedds, South Warwickshire Policing Area Commander said, "This is an excellent and unique initiative which demonstrates really strong partnership working and we are delighted that the pilot was successful and the scheme is extended for a further period."

Otis Hanley, Chief Executive Officer, SafetyNet Security Group said, "Our Marshals quickly developed a good rapport with the students as we help them and their friends and ensure they can go out and stay safe. Our Marshals use a wide range of inter-personal skills to ensure that problems do not escalate. Our staff really enjoy the work and we are proud to be Leamington’s Street Marshals."

Ben Sundell, President of the University of Warwick Students’ Union said, "The feedback we have received from students has only been positive. The Marshals have been a friendly and reassuring presence, who have been on hand to help students get home safely, pass on welfare advice and provide a calmer environment on nights out.  The fact that there is always a female Marshall in every pair has also been particularly well received."