New police team meets staff and students at the University of Northampton

A small team of police officers dedicated to the safety of the University of Northampton were welcomed by staff and students at the new Waterside campus on Wednesday.

Since the start of October, the select team of police officers – consisting of one sergeant and five constables – has been working alongside university security and safety staff for a period of three academic years.

Based on site, the team will work specifically on University activities and provide services that are above the core policing provided by Northants Police – such as safety advice, developing the capabilities of University security staff, and high visibility patrolling of the campus and routes to and from town.

The police team will be funded by the University to work specifically on campus activities to ensure no additional burden on the taxpayer or reduction in policing in and around Northampton.

Sergeant Lorna Clarke – an officer with 16 years’ experience with Cambridgeshire Police and Northants Police – will lead the team

Sgt Clarke, said: ”The University of Northampton places a huge emphasis on the safety of its staff and students which is why we have entered into a partnership with them to make this one of the safest campuses in the country.

“We are here to keep people safe and help them feel safe as well as to enforce the law and tackle any crimes that may take place here.

“We’ll be available to staff and students, on site, seven days a week and we’ll be holding regular surgeries for people to come along and raise any concerns they may have.”

University of Northampton Chief Operating Officer Terry Neville added: “We are delighted to welcome Sgt Clarke and her colleagues. The University of Northampton has worked with our partners in the police for a long time to ensure the safety of our community, and now that we are in our new environment at Waterside campus, this is the next evolution of that partnership.”