Courier 1302

Page 1

www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 1 December 2014 Issue 1302 Free

BATTLE ROYALE v HUNGER GAMES Which child-led bloodbath is best? p.23

The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students

TOP OF THE GLASS HANGOVER CURE The best stained glass windows We’ve found Newcastle’s

Bike thefts spur calls for security rethink

from across the city p. 12 best fry-up p. 14

Richardson Road bike storage targeted by thieves Former Cycling Club President: bike storage “unsuitable for students serious on cycling” Uni hope to have new bike storage plans together by September 2015

By Jack Parker There has been a surge in the number of bicycles stolen from campus, as well as from student homes in Jesmond and Heaton, in recent months, with students being warned to take extra safeguards when storing their bikes. Bike thefts are a recurring issue amongst students, with high value bikes, often worth thousands, being the main target of thieves. Tristan Tinn, former Cycling Society President believes that, “secure student bike storage for club members has been a long term standing issue with the University accommodation services.” In terms of facilities, Tinn believes that: “The facilities they provide for students are adequate from cheap bikes for getting around uni - however they are unsuitable for students serious on cycling with bicycles ranging in value typically from £500 to £5,000”. Tristan believes that the lack of decent storage facilities provided by the University is to blame for a lack of uptake in cycling amongst freshers, with many

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not being able to store their bikes in their halls safely. Many halls can issue fines for storing bikes inside due to contravening health and safety regulations. Tristan also reports that recently the bike storage facilities at Richardson Road were broken into: “A number of cycles were stolen - nine I believe. A number of others were left damaged and in pieces. Included in these bikes were a couple of our club’s members.” “This is an ongoing issue with the University that I have tried to resolve a number of times. This incident highlights the problem even more with some of these damaged bikes being worth £1,000.” The University invested £95,000 in a bike storage facility under Claremont Bridge in December 2012, but this is only available for the use of staff members. Currently there are no such storage facilities on campus for students, with only bike racks being available. With student bicycles ranging in price from as little as £100 right up to as much as £5,000, students feel that they need more secure storage.

Smile for Hatti: campaign for terminally ill cheerleader raises £10,000 in two weeks and boosts blood banks A University spokesman said: “We are aware that students are keen to see more secure storage facilities on our central campus and are looking at the options available. Working with the Estate Improvement team we would envisage having plans in place for the 2015-16 academic year.” “Working with the Estate Security Service we run one or two cycle events each academic year where we disseminate guidance on best practice, issue high-vis clothing and D-locks. The next event is likely to take place in the Spring.” Figures from Northumbria Police show that there has been an increase in the number of thefts in September compared to last year, and also more thefts in the city centre between February and May of this year than last year. However, the figures for the period from January to September shows a fall in bike thefts. Between January and September of 2014, a total of 136 bicycles were stolen from the city centre, compared with the same period in 2013 when there were 195 being reported. Figures for the Jesmond and Heaton

areas of Newcastle, where the majority of students choose to live, show far greater levels of theft between January and September 2013, with 168 thefts reported. The same period this year shows a significant decrease in thefts, with 100 being reported. Students are being reminded to ensure that they do as much as they can to make sure their bikes are secure. Mo Khan, Newcastle University’s Police Neighbourhood Police Officer, reassured students that Northumbria Police will “deal with the issue” and that they “have been doing reactive and proactive work” on the issue of bike thefts on campus and the wider city itself. Khan notes that police “have increased high visibility patrols around identified crime hot spots”. “There’s definitely been a wave of thefts of pedal bikes. This is a time when we get a major hot spot of them.” As well as this, Northumbria Police have offered some advice to students on ensuring that their bikes remain safe, including using a high quality Dlock to keep their bikes safe, as well as

storing bikes in safe and well-lit areas, using bike racks wherever possible. At home, police urge bike owners to keep their bikes in their back yard, as well as their bins, to prevent thieves using them to jump over walls to steal bikes. If your bike is stolen, check Gumtree and eBay to see if your bike is for sale online and contact the police if you do see it. There have been some cases of Newcastle students’ bikes turning up on Gumtree; in one case a student purchased another students’ stolen bicycle online unknowingly. Despite recent figures showing that bike thefts are falling due to an increased police presence and police efforts, students still feel that their bikes are not completely safe, even after University schemes designed to beef up student bike safety. Third year English and History student Tria Lawrence stated, “I just don’t always trust people to not try the strength of my bike lock for a laugh, on the off chance they manage to break the lock, despite it being provided by the Uni”.


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