Night security staff may begin patrolling streets around campus if YUSU copy a scheme set up at a rival university.
YUSU have contacted York St John’s Students’ Union President, Jason Wallis, to investigate the possibility of replicating the scheme in residential areas around campus.
The “Street Marshall” plan, set up by York St. John University earlier this year involves teams of licensed door supervisors patrolling residential areas inhabited by students to keep order and reduce student caused disturbances.
The temporary scheme was considered a runaway success and is now set to become permanent. It is likely to be borrowed by YUSU in an attempt to address complaints about students made by local residents in the Heslington area.
Wallis, who ran the trial scheme declared the idea a success. He said: “Responses from the community have suggested that the majority would like to see the scheme run full time, not just at times of heightened activity by our students.
The York St John’s scheme saw fully qualified bouncers patrolling local streets between 10pm and 3am, attending incidents and asking students to respect local residents by reducing noise.”
“We have approached York St John about what type of arrangement they have in place,” says YUSU President Tim Ngwena. He likens the potential staff used to Doorsafe, stressing that they would not need the same extensive training as porters and security staff.
However, it is not yet known whether YUSU will give the idea the go-ahead or where exactly it would be used.
In the past local residents have complained about the behaviour of York students, particularly after they return from a night out.
Earlier this year, residents on Thief Lane and Newland Park Drive wrote to local MP Hugh Bayley to complain about students. One complaint described them as “causing distress to mainly the elderly residents.” Badger Hill residents have also made complaints stating that students display “a flagrant lack of consideration for their living environment.”