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Briefing on anti-social behaviour at Whitechapel campus

Staff and students have been reporting concerns about the behaviour of a group of people who have been gathering in the Newark Street area of the Whitechapel campus. If you travel through this area, or know anyone who does, please read this guidance.

Published:

Queen Mary takes the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff seriously, and are working with the Police, NHS Trust, and local charities to try and address the situation. We also recognise that there are underlying issues for some people who commit anti-social behaviour, and there is information below about how Queen Mary contributes to preventative programmes and support services.

What is being done?

  • Our Security team is working closely with Barts Health NHS Trust, and the Trust have employed additional security officers to monitor and respond to the situation.
  • Regular reports are being made to Tower Hamlets Council who have involved their Homeless and Housing Advice Services as well as their Rough Sleeping Lead.
  • Information has been logged with a charity that specialises in homelessness.
  • The Security team is working closely with colleagues in the School of Medicine and Dentistry and Barts and The London Student Association who work in this area to provide advice and information. 
  • Our Security teams are patrolling the area as often as possible and actively monitoring the CCTV system.
  • We are encouraging staff and students to report anti-social behaviour to our Security team or the Police so that evidence can be gathered about the scale or persistence of the problem.

What is the advice for students, staff and residents of Floyer House?

  • Try to avoid Newark Street as best as possible.
  • When travelling around the local area, particularly at night, try not to travel on your own and keep to well-lit, busy areas.
  • Report all incidents to our Security team on 0207 882 5555, or to the Police if it is of a serious nature: dial 101 for non-emergency situations, and 999 for emergencies and immediate assistance.
  • Report anti-social behaviour, including littering, urination, excessive noise and drug use, to Tower Hamlets Council: https://forms.towerhamlets.gov.uk/service/report_anti_social_behaviour

Support from QMUL and QMSU

Various people within QMUL contribute to services and programmes that aim to help homeless people – some are listed below. If you would like to add what you do to the list, please contact staff-update@qmul.ac.uk. 

The Students’ Union’s community volunteering service, QMSU Volunteering, provides opportunities and support for students to volunteer for charities and projects that support those who are homeless.  

  • QMSU Volunteering are currently promoting an ongoing charity shop volunteer role with Shelter. Each year QMSU Volunteering also recruit students to volunteer for two events which raise money and awareness for homeless people: Shelter’s ‘Vertical Rush’ and Centrepoint’s ‘Sleep Out’.
  • In the past four academic years, QMSU Volunteering has organised 42 one-day volunteering opportunities at Whitechapel Mission, where students both cook and serve breakfast to and for the local homeless or sort through clothes donations. In winter, students can volunteer on Fridays to take unsold food from Students’ Union cafes to the Hackney Winter Night Shelter.
  • Through the QMSU Volunteering Group, Bow Foodbank, students cumulatively volunteer hundreds of hours per year to help with the running of the foodbank and handing out food to guests.

Students’ Union societies also run their own projects each year to support the homeless.

  • The Ahlulbayt Society received a certificate from Bow Foodbank last year for collecting 312kg of donated food, supporting 63 families who struggle to buy food to eat.
  • Muslim Medics and Dentists Society and the Islamic Society will be part of a London Community Impact Project. The purpose of the event, in the students’ own words, is: “To organise an activity day for the homeless, with personal hygiene stalls, employment information and provision of lots of other services. We want to provide a dignified novel experience to help the homeless population fight their way out of the poverty cycle through an afternoon workshop. We want to focus on:

    • Helping the homeless

    • Provide an experience and day out for them

    • Provide services they may not always have access to

    • Think about leaving impacts with more longevity creating activities that are multi-purpose and serve both the homeless and student population simultaneously.”

How can I help with this work?

You can find information on the Students’ Union’s volunteering service at https://www.qmsu.org/volunteering/.

If you register as a volunteer, you will be kept updated with current and new opportunities. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the QMSU Volunteering team using the details on the website: https://www.qmsu.org/volunteering/.

Students can register for volunteering through the website, and staff can contact su-volunteering@qmul.ac.uk for more information and to take part.

The Health Volunteer Fair will take place on Wednesday 10 January from 11am to 3pm in the Old Library in the Garrod Building at the Whitechapel campus. Contact su-volunteering@qmul.ac.uk for more information.

 

 

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