Zip it surrey students
A good-humoured Policeman in Guildford let first year university students decorate him with feathers and pulled a resigned smile for the camera, as Officers enjoyed Surrey Freshers Week with the new arrivals.
Freshers hit the streets of Guildford this week as the University of Surrey's term began.
Amongst the many messages they’ll be receiving, one asking them to keep quiet after a night out in the town.
In a targeted campaign the new students are being advised to enjoy themselves but keep the noise down and avoid anti-social behaviour which can cause nuisance to local residents.
The ‘zip it’ initiative is supported by the University of Surrey, The University of Surrey Students’ Union and the Safer Guildford partnership.
PC Jane Christmas, Higher Education Liaison Officer at Surrey Police said the aim is to alert youngsters of the need to respect local people by being considerate to noise levels, littering and other acts of minor anti-social behaviour which can lead to the student population being misjudged by the community.
"When students enrol they throw themselves into the exciting Fresher’s events and can unwittingly cause problems in the locality due to high jinks and lack of forethought" she said.
"In general there are no deliberate acts of offending and it is just youngsters enjoying their first few days at uni and the first flush of freedom.
"However for local residents the antics can cause nuisance and we are urging all the students to have fun but respect the fact that other people who are not sharing their activities have a right to enjoy their homes in peace.”
"We have been given some tremendous support from the local residents’ associations, as well as Surrey Police and the Council, whom we are working with to help these students become part of the local community,” added Maz Hussein, President of the Student’s Union.
The ‘zip it’ posters have been distributed in the town and particularly in Walnut Tree Close, which is used as a cut through for students going from the campus into town and back.
Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team will be conducting high visibility patrols in those areas in and around the campus and town where students will be out enjoying the Freshers activities.
