Campus Safety

We want you to enjoy your time here and have a great experience.

At Aston we take the safety of our students and staff very seriously. That’s why we invest in security technology, train our staff to provide practical safety advice and support, and maintain excellent relationships with local police.

How we support your safety on campus

• Carry out regular patrols of the campus, departments and academic areas 24/7 to maintain a safe, secure environment.
• Respond, manage and monitor all emergency situations, fire alarms, panic/intruder alarms on campus.
• Respond to first aid requests (all officers are trained to defibrillator level).
• Provide crime prevention advice, welfare support and suicide intervention.
• Undertake out of hours maintenance, risk assessments, security surveys and regular reassurance patrols of the campus to maintain a safe environment.
• Offer advice and support for visiting VIPS, authorised contractors, organised campus events and support the Students’ Union with security advice and event management.
• Support our students when required in matters of security, welfare, crime prevention, safety and much more.
• Manage campus car parks, allocate parking for visitors (including VIPs), provide access for deliveries and maintain safe traffic management for authorised vehicles entering our campus
• Monitor access across campus, ensuring unauthorised persons are not granted access
• Offer crime prevention advice to reduce further the already low rate of crime across the campus, monitor a Lost and Found service at our Control Room
• Engage with stakeholders across the university to ensure that we are continually delivering value and anticipating their needs.

We recognise the great achievements of our staff through the annual Security Awards programme offering awards in ‘Courage and Professionalism’ and ‘Outstanding Continuous Performance.’

Staying safe in Birmingham

Whether it’s your first time in a big city, or you know your surroundings very well, your safety is important.

Here are some tips on keeping you and your belongings safe when out and about.

• If you have to walk alone at night take extra care. Stay on roads that are well lit, relatively busy and avoid short cuts that involve alleyways or walkways across parks or commons with poor lighting.
• Plan your route in advance.
• Don’t use your mobile phone or headphones whilst walking alone. This impacts on your senses that alert you to danger and advertises your vulnerability. Keep them hidden away.
• If you are carrying a bag, try to have it across your chest and keep your hand over the fastening.
• Never leave your bags or other valuables unattended in public places.
• Don’t carry important documents or credit cards that you don’t need.
• Only take your purse or wallet out when you need to and be discreet with your belongings - displaying expensive jewellery or electronic devices, like mobile phones or cameras, could attract unwanted attention
• If you think you are being followed, cross the road or go into a shop and stay there until you are sure you are safe.

If you see any suspicious activity, please contact Campus Safety on 0121 204 4803/7 or 0121 359 2922.

Project Servator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Servator is a partnership with West Midlands Police and aims to deter, detect and disrupt a range of criminal activity, while providing a reassuring presence for the public.

It sees highly-visible yet unpredictable police deployments in and around campus and Birmingham. They can happen anywhere and at any time.

They involve both uniformed and plain-clothed officers, supported by a range of other resources such as armed officers, police dogs, vehicle check-points, a network of CCTV cameras, security staff and retailers we work in partnership with.

One of the key elements of Project Servator is unpredictability, so don’t be surprised if you see police officers pop up at various times and locations across the campus.

Reporting Incidents

If you need to report an incident on campus, Aston University Campus Safety Team are available 24/7 and 365 days a year. No matter how large or small, the Campus Safety Team are here to help you.

• Telephone: 0121 204 4803 or direct 24 hour line 0121 359 2922.
• Email Campus Safety
• Where to find us: to the right of the university reception in the Main Building. 

You can also contact the Hub on 0121 204 4007.

For general enquiries: internal (4803) university switchboard (0121 204 0300).

West Midlands Police

For emergencies dial 999, and then contact Campus Safety on 0121 359 2922 (open 24 hours). 

For non-emergencies dial West Midlands Police 101 or register for live chat (non-emergency).

Safezone

SafeZone is designed to ensure the safety of both students and staff around campus. You can be easily connected with the members of the Aston Security team to enhance personal safety, security and wellbeing.

Find out more about SafeZone and download the app.

CCTV

Our control room operates an extensive, state-of-the-art CCTV network. Our operators are trained in operational needs, Data Protection Law, the Human Rights Act and equipped with personal body cameras. 

As a public body, the University may receive requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Requests are dealt with by the Freedom of Information Coordinator and Registry.

 

Policies

• View the University's CCTV Code of Practice.
• View the data protection policy statement.

Data Protection policies

University Data Protection Policy
Aston University's Entry on the ICO's Data Protection Register

Cycling

Cyclists can join our Aston University Bicycle User Group (AstBug). It is free to join and membership benefits include:

• Subsidised ‘D’ locks for £10
• Changing facilities and lockers
• 50% discount on the Brompton Bike Hire scheme
• Free security bike marking facility through Bike Register

 

 

 

 

 

 

For health and safety reasons, no cycles can be taken in to any of our buildings. However we have a number of secure bike shelters throughout the campus and in combination with CCTV and a good ‘D’ lock, your bike will be secure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drink and Drugs

For those who drink alcohol and when you are out with friends, it is important to keep in control.

• Always eat before you go out to drink.
• Know your limits and stick to them.
• Alternate between your alcoholic and soft drinks.
• Try not to get into rounds. They make it harder to control how much you drink.
• Drink a glass of water when you get home.

Aston University has a strict zero-tolerance to the use of illegal drugs and for students involved in illegal drugs activity, disciplinary action will be taken.

Disciplinary action can result in fines, suspension from studies and expulsion from University. 

A drug conviction, even a caution, can seriously restrict your eligibility for certain careers and foreign travel.

For more information and advice on drink and drugs visit:

• Drinkaware
• talktofrank
• Supportline
• Rehab 4 Addiction in Birmingham

New Speed Gates FAQs

What's happening?	Over the summer ’23 period, we will be implementing access control speed gates into the Main Building on campus. They will be operational from September 2023 for the start of term which means from this point, all students and members of staff will have to use their staff I.D. card to enter the building.
Why are the University doing this?	The safety and security of all who visit, work and study at the University is our utmost priority. Being able to control who can enter our buildings means we can keep everyone safe and ensure that necessary and proportionate security measures are in place.
Are the gates replacing physical security staff?	While the task of checking I.D. card will now be automated via the speed gates, a security staff member will remain available on the ground floor area to support students, members of staff and visitors.
Will my existing I.D. card work with the gates?	Yes, you will continue to use your current I.D. card.
What happens if I forget my I.D. card?	All staff should remember to bring their I.D. card with them as access to our buildings is often controlled using your I.D. card and not having this with you could cause you delays in entry or restricted access to certain areas. If you forget your I.D. card or it is not working then please speak to the front of house team or reception who will be able to assist you.
Do visitors still need to report to reception?	Yes, visitors will need to continue to report to reception.
What happens in the case of a major incident	All of the new speed gates will be equipped with emergency features that allow them to be easily bypassed, if need be, but also come with tailgating detection to stop any unauthorised entrants from following others through a gate.
What about accessibility?	For accessibility purposes, we are implementing a larger speed gate that will allow wheelchairs or other mobility devices to pass through quickly and securely.
Are speed gates being implemented in any other building on campus?	Speed gates are only being implemented in the Main Building at this time. They are already in use in the library and utilisation in other buildings will be regularly under review.
What happens during busy times?	The gates are bidirectional and can be switched between ‘in’ and ‘out’ so during busy times, staff can change these accordingly. Reception and security will monitor the flow and will open the gates to increase capacity should it be required.