Night patrols aimed at cracking down on rowdy parties in student suburbs will continue this year.
University bosses have renewed a contract to hire security staff to patrol the south Manchester student suburbs of Withington and Fallowfield.
The ‘visible guardians’ are equipped with audio and video recording devices and patrol ‘hotspots’ during Freshers Week and each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during term time.
The scheme was launched back in 2016 in following a slew of complaints about rowdy house parties which made life a misery for some residents.
Students have been handed noise abatement notices and could be kicked out of university, and prosecuted, if they repeatedly host rowdy parties.
The action is funded by Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to positive relations and enhancing cohesive communities, we are pleased to be able to continue the night-time community patrols for the next academic year,” they said in a joint statement.
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“Following continued feedback, it was decided to continue the night-time patrols to provide reassurance and support for both student and long-term residents through our jointly funded Community Neighbourhood Support Team patrols.
“We will monitor nightly reports and feedback from residents to ensure that patrols are focused on the appropriate areas. We will continue to work with all those who live and work in the community to shape these services.”
The ‘Community Neighbourhood Support Team’ patrols will continue to operate over the next academic year.
Acting as ‘professional witnesses’ the guardians report anti-social behaviour to police and the universities.
While they don’t have powers to enter student homes or issue fines, university staff say they have helped offer reassurance to residents, deal amicably with disputes, and gather evidence of anti-social behaviour and present it to campus bosses.
Information from residents meetings and noise complaints are also gathered by Manchester Student Homes and used to inform the patrols.
Manchester Council and out of hours service unntil 4.30am to respond to any issues relating to noise from private properties or licensed establishments. The patrols will compliment this service.
The patrols will operate for the first two weeks of the academic year, and then every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during term time, between 10pm and 6am.
