University collected £44,300 from students for Covidrelated offences

Megan Ballantyne Editor

IN data obtained through Freedom of Information request Exeposé found that £44,300 was collected by the University for 1258 Covid-related offences between September 2020 and December 2021. There were also 889 warnings issued without fines during this period. The largest fines issued to students by the University during this period were £200.

The majority of this money was collected from students in October and November of 2020. In these two months £37,300 was collected from students, and the majority of offences also took place within this period.

Email communications to staff and students from University management during this period emphasised the welfare measures the University was taking to help those struggling with isolation, and the need for there to be a "collective effort" from the university community to tackle Covid, and for students to take responsibility for protecting "those around us and their loved ones." Email communications also expressed concerns regarding police presence in University halls due to breaches of Covid laws, and concerns that this police and media presence would "damage our standing in the wider community." There was little direct information provided to students regarding the University's protocol for issuing fines and warnings in regards to Covid-related offences.

There was little direct information provided to students regarding the University’s protocol for issuing fines and warnings

When asked what the money collected from fines was used for, the University stated that “The money was invested into supporting students either via the wellbeing team or the Success for all fund.”