A message from Professor Richard Black, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
The unrest in parts of the UK and in some areas of our city has been deeply unsettling for everyone. As the Vice-Chancellor said in his message to staff and students on Monday, racism and discrimination have no place in society and no place on our campus.
We condemn this senseless violence and echo the words of our city’s faith leaders in calling for peace and unity. We are working alongside city leaders, and collaboratively with the other universities in the city, to build a positive way forward.
I want to provide some information and reassurance about how the University is working to keep everyone in our community safe.
Personal safety
The University of Liverpool’s campuses have not been directly affected by any of these incidents so far and the University remains open. This includes for student resits which are going ahead today and throughout the following weeks, as planned. We are in regular contact with Merseyside Police and they have offered reassurance about their resilience plan, which includes an increased police presence in the area local to campus.
Please continue to check local travel information and adjust your commute times or travel plans if necessary.
Dispersal orders have been in place in areas of the city over the past week and as you may have seen reported, a dispersal order is in place in an area close to (but not applying to) our campus until tomorrow evening. A dispersal order gives police officers and police community support traffic officers, powers to direct people who are engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents. These powers will not be used for anyone visiting the area to go about their daily business. More information is available here Dispersal order introduced in South Liverpool | Merseyside Police.
Support for staff and students
If you are experiencing concerns about your safety, I would urge you to seek support from one of the many services we provide for our staff and students. This is a difficult and worrying time but I want to stress you are not alone. We are here to support you if you need it.
Students can contact our Student Services team who offer a range of specialised services.
Staff can speak to their line manager or HR Business Partner and access our Employee Assistance Programme.
Campus Support Chaperone Service
For added reassurance, a chaperone service can be requested by anyone who would like to be escorted between buildings, by calling 0151 794 3252. Campus Support can also be contacted directly in the event of an emergency.
Reporting incidents
If you or someone you know has experienced or witnessed any form of hate or have a safeguarding concern, we would urge you to use the University’s Report and Support tool. You can also report hate crimes to Merseyside Police via their website or by calling 101.