Students help police launch new safety campaign

Three MMU Design and Art Direction students have helped launch a major student safety campaign across Manchester’s universities during Fresher’s Week.

Helen Butterworth (21), Isobel Stockhill (21) and Emma Thompson (31) were recruited by Greater Manchester Police to design an anti-crime marketing campaign for students after impressing a panel of judges with their ideas.

Over the last three years 18,000 students have been victims of crime in the city and the initiative aims to raise awareness of robbery and burglary - the two most common offences.

GMP, who organise student crime prevention drives each year, wanted a campaign designed for students by students that would make them stop, think and ultimately take steps to protect themselves. The talented design trio spoke to fellow students on campus and set up a Facebook site to gather information for the campaign, which includes posters on Oxford Road, postcards and beer mats.

Serious messages

Designer Helen, who was herself targeted by burglars when she lived in Rusholme last year, said: “I felt really vulnerable and unsafe. If I had had something to make me more aware of student safety, it would have really helped.

“As we are the target audience we thought a fresh, exciting and vibrant approach would attract the attention of the student population. With the simple, cheeky and thought provoking straplines we wanted to give the campaign a sense of fun while still communicating the serious crime prevention messages.”

Take simple steps

Superintendent Simon Barraclough, from GMP’s South Manchester Division, said: “Manchester is a great city for students to study, live and socialise. However, the number of students falling victim to crime is still far too high. To stop this we need students to follow some very simple steps.

“It is really easy to make it hard for thieves by doing straightforward things, such as keeping valuables out of sight, always being aware of what’s going on around you, keeping to well-lit areas and shutting and locking all your windows and doors even when you’re at home.”

The colourful student marketing campaign will run alongside various policing operations to help keep new and returning students safe, including high-visibility patrols in hotspot areas, live monitoring of CCTV cameras and special talks in halls of residence. Students are also being encouraged to register their valuables on www.immobilise.com.