Agenda item

Safety of Students

14.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Adam Hanrahan, and formally seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, that this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the many students at both Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University who have recently come to Sheffield for the new academic year;

(b)       recognises the massive economic, social and cultural contribution Sheffield’s student population makes to our city;

(c)        notes Sheffield’s reputation as a safe city and recognises that this reputation is a factor in many students’ decisions to come and study here;

(d)       expresses concern that in our city, students may be at a particular risk of crime, as burglary is on the increase in areas such as Broomhill, Crookesmoor and Broomhall, and there have been a number of recent high profile sexual assaults in student areas and the city centre;

(e)       believes that this poses a threat to the safety of our student population, a threat to the vitality of Sheffield’s night-time economy and may potentially lead to a fall in student numbers; and

(f)        calls on the Administration and the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner to set up a task force with students and staff from both Universities to ensure that all of our institutions are sharing best practice and are doing everything we can to keep students safe within the city.

14.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Neale Gibson, and formally seconded by Councillor Peter Rippon, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the replacement, in paragraph (d), of the words “as burglary is on the increase in areas such as Broomhill, Crookesmoor and Broomhall and there have been a number of recent high profile sexual assaults in student areas and the city centre”, by the words “however welcomes recent crime figures reported in the Sheffield Star newspaper that burglary is down in student areas such as Broomhill with a 38.75% reduction from 80 to 49 and notes comments on the Sheffield Hallam Student Union website that “cases of student burglary have actually been reduced in recent years in Sheffield.”; and

2.         the deletion of paragraphs (e) and (f) and the addition of a new paragraph (e) as follows:-

(e)       notes that whilst Sheffield is recognised as one of the country’s safest cities, it is important not to be complacent and welcomes the existing strong partnership working between the Council, Students’ Unions, Universities and the police to promote student safety and recognises that any specific issues can be raised through these channels.

14.3

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

14.4

It was then formally moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, and formally seconded by Councillor Magid Magid, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a paragraph (f) as follows:-

(f)        commends the many agencies that are working hard to tackle complex issues of begging, alcohol and drug problems, street homelessness and mental health; and recognises that education of students about these matters is an important part of addressing these issues and promoting safety in the city.

14.4.1

(NOTE: With the agreement of the Council and at the request of the mover of the amendment (Councillor Douglas Johnson), the amendment as circulated at the meeting was altered so as to propose the new paragraph as an additional paragraph (f) to the substantive motion, and also by the insertion between the words “education of” and “students” of the words “the general public, and in particular”.)

14.5

On being put to the vote, the altered amendment was carried.

14.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the many students at both Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University who have recently come to Sheffield for the new academic year;

(b)       recognises the massive economic, social and cultural contribution Sheffield’s student population makes to our city;

(c)        notes Sheffield’s reputation as a safe city and recognises that this reputation is a factor in many students’ decisions to come and study here;

(d)       expresses concern that in our city, students may be at a particular risk of crime, however welcomes recent crime figures reported in the Sheffield Star newspaper that burglary is down in student areas such as Broomhill with a 38.75% reduction from 80 to 49 and notes comments on the Sheffield Hallam Student Union website that “cases of student burglary have actually been reduced in recent years in Sheffield”;

(e)       notes that whilst Sheffield is recognised as one of the country’s safest cities, it is important not to be complacent and welcomes the existing strong partnership working between the Council, Students’ Unions, Universities and the police to promote student safety and recognises that any specific issues can be raised through these channels; and

(f)        commends the many agencies that are working hard to tackle complex issues of begging, alcohol and drug problems, street homelessness and mental health; and recognises that education of the general public, and in particular students, about these matters is an important part of addressing these issues and promoting safety in the city.