Officers meet with students at university’s Freshers Fair

The constabulary’s University Policing Team attended the Freshers Fair on Friday (29 September) as part of their work to promote student safety.

The University of Hertfordshire’s Freshers Fair, which took place on de Havilland campus, gave the officers a chance to introduce themselves to the new students and share useful crime prevention advice.

The University Policing Team has been working as a successful partnership with the University for over 10 years. The team, made up of a PC and two PCSOs, regularly patrol the campuses and attend and host many events throughout the year where students can report any concerns and gain advice.

At the fair, the team were also joined by colleagues from the British Transport Police.

A wide variety of safety topics were covered including tips on how to stay safe on nights out, as part of the constabulary’s continued efforts to tackle violence and against women and girls.

Amongst the many freebies on offer, students were offered anti-spiking covers. These colourful covers fit inside drink bottles to prevent them from being spiked and the team take them to events throughout the year to hand out.

Throughout Freshers’ Week, the team had also been sharing daily crime prevention advice on their Twitter account. Their activities across the campuses were also shared on the new Herts Police Tik Tok account.

In addition to Friday’s fair, the team attended the Welcome Fair for international students on Friday 22 September. The officers answered questions from the students and explained how to contact the police in the UK.

Once again this year, the team have also joined up with the University and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council on Op Balsam – a series of extended noise patrols at key points throughout the year. The aim is to help foster good relations between students and local residents. The operation has been underway throughout Freshers’ Week to help prevent any neighbourhood noise disputes.

PC Sarah Sherlock, who leads the University Policing Team, said: “Attending the Welcome Fair and meeting the new students is always a highlight in our calendar. This year was no different – there was a brilliant atmosphere and students were keen to stop by and hear about how we are there to help them.

“The university is a safe place and we’ll carry on throughout the year ensuring it stays that way. I’d like to wish the students a brilliant year ahead. Please remember we are always here if you need us.”

University of Hertfordshire Dean of Students, Geri Ward, said: “Freshers Fair is an exciting time for our students that is not only about having a fun introduction to university life, but also about equipping them with the information and tools required to have the most successful and positive experience possible while at Herts. This includes learning about the support services provided by our dedicated University Policing Team, who work around the clock, on campus and across the local area, to keep our community safe.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff will always be our utmost priority, and we are proud to work so closely with our colleagues at Hertfordshire Constabulary to give students the confidence to report any concerns and provide the latest advice on how to reduce risks, stay safe and most importantly, have the best time at university.”

You can follow the University Policing Team on social media:

Instagram: @HertsuniPolice (opens in a new window) 

Twitter: @HertsUniPolice (opens in a new window) 

You can follow the constabulary on TikTok too!

TikTok: @HertsPolice (opens in a new window)  

For student safety advice, visit the team’s page on the Hertfordshire Constabulary website.

As part of Op Balsam, residents can report concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour to the police on 101 or to the council on 01707 357000.

Photo 1: The British Transport Police brought along VR headsets, simulating the impact and investigation of a train collision.

Photo 2: The University Policing Team - PCSO Carl Donovan, PC Sarah Sherlock and PCSO Nick Doe