A joint partnership approach to reduce low-level anti-social behaviour across campuses.

Devon & Cornwall Police have recently accredited members of the Falmouth Plus (FX Plus) Campus Security team with limited police powers through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

Sector Inspector Martin Roberts, from Devon & Cornwall Police, said:

"We are extremely pleased to have been able to accredit officers with CSAS powers within Falmouth University.

"We have already undertaken much work with the university to reduce anti-social behaviour and the scheme will now allow us to build closer links and help provide a safe community for students to live and study in.

"Allowing organisations to have CSAS powers also allows us to extend our policing family – they are not a replacement for our local teams but compliment them."

The scheme, which has been running across Devon and Cornwall since 2005, has given nine security officers additional enforcement powers which can be used across both Falmouth and Penryn Campuses and the university halls of residences.

The CSAS powers will enable these representatives to deal with any low level anti-social behaviour which might occur as well as improve security on campuses for university students.

The powers have been targeted to the university's needs and include being able to request the name and address of anyone acting in an anti-social manner, to confiscate alcohol from anyone under the age of 18 and tobacco from anyone under 16. It is a formal offence should an individual not comply with these requests from those accredited through CSAS.

Becki Brodest-Nott, CSAS Manager added:

"There are a number of benefits of the scheme including reassurance to members of the community that training and vetting is completed by accredited persons. It also allows better communication and improved relationships between the police and partner agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and other low-level crime and disorder, which impacts significantly upon communities across Devon and Cornwall.

"The accreditation of limited, but targeted powers, allows accredited persons to be more effective in the role they already undertake, but more importantly assists with ensuring safer communities for all to live, work and visit."

The introduction of the scheme also aims to develop further partnership working with local police and form better communication, information sharing and improved relationships.

As a result of introducing CSAS powers in other organisations, many have seen significantly reduced levels of low-level crime as well as increased joint police operations and activities. Falmouth University will join Falmouth Town Council and Cornwall Council who are also both accredited with limited police powers through CSAS and operate in the area.

Rob Greensmith, Head of Security for FX Plus said:

"We are looking forward to the closer working relationship with local police through this accreditation and are pleased that our highly trained Security Officers now have additional powers to further ensure the safety and security of campus users at both Penryn and Falmouth campuses."

To find out more about CSAS schemes operating across Devon and Cornwall, click the red button below.