Campus Safety
Stay safe on and off campus
We want you to enjoy your time here and have a great experience.
Aston is a safe campus to live, work and study and we have a number of systems in place to ensure your safety, security and wellbeing are protected. The safety of our community is a priority for Aston University and the outstanding service by Aston’s Campus Safety Team is recognised through the award of ‘Security Team of the Year 2019’ by AUCSO (Association of University Chief Security Officers).
Staying safe and reporting any incidents is the shared responsibility of our whole community and there are some simple steps you can follow to give you extra vigilance and peace of mind.
- What We Do
- 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
Find out more about SafeZone, our new security app.
Find out more about SafeZone’s features.
- 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.
In 2015 the University worked alongside the Surveillance Camera Commissioner to trial an assessment tool to ensure we met Government guidelines. Aston was the first University in the UK to achieve the SCC Certificate of Compliance.
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:
- Security Team of the Year 2018
For outstanding service, the Security Team are recognised through the award of ‘Security Team of the Year 2018’ by AUCSO (Association of University Chief Security Officers).
AUCSO is the leading organisation for security professionals working in higher and further education in the UK and Europe.
Aston University Security is a dedicated, professional and experienced department, here to help day and night, every day of the year. The team provide reassurance to students, staff and visitors and much more. Our control room is staffed 24/7, 365 days of the year to provide our staff, students and visitors with the safest possible place to live, work or visit.