WHAT IS CRIME ?

Crime prevention is thus a pro- active strategy designed to eliminate or minimize criminal opportunities before a crime actually occurs.

The Security Department has started to appraise the crime risks and crime figures to enable her draw crime prevention plans. At this juncture, staff and students should not consider the security department as having the sole responsibility of crime prevention. If this happens it becomes a dangerous and worrisome misconception.

Therefore “ Crime prevention is everybody’s business” This must be accepted by all that crime prevention can only be effective and efficient when there is enthusiastic and thoughtful input from all stakeholders on our campus.

We should be involved in doing something that removes the opportunity that allows a criminal to operate and if not removing the opportunity completely, making the criminal’s action as difficult as possible. The placing of physical and other barriers that prevent criminals reaching their target or victims is the most obvious and basic of result. Our Campus has no perimeter fence but we have the door grilles, burglar bars, sturty door, but these in themselves, have not proved to be sufficient, especially in the Campus where there is no perimeter fence.

In addition to the use of the above techniques there are other, perhaps less obvious, crime prevention tools that should be used.

These include

1. The setting up of a Campus Security forum in which representatives of all of the communities are represented
2. Employment of staff assistants to operate a student usher services
3. Putting in place of rules and regulations, for both staff and students that are sensible, easily understood, fair and enforceable (and consistently enforced)
4. Establishing procedures for speedily investigating reported violation of rules and regulation within a reasonable time and in line with constitutional guidelines
5. Providing a policy to advise the campus community of crime statistics and on new crime trends.
6. Providing orientation for all students and staff on the crime situation on campus.
7. Ensuring that areas used by students after dark are well- lit and free from hiding places such as overgrown shrubbery and unlit buildings.
8. Ensuring that the campus is fire arms free.

To assist us in ensuring security on the campus, please report any suspicious person or situation and all crimes to the Security officers as we can only act if we are informed.

Finally be alert, security conscious and involved.

Giving of prompt and accurate information on crime related cases is of utmost importance in ensuring all round security.