UNIVERSITY ISSUES FINES TO 42 STUDENTS FOR BREAKING RULES

THE University of Bristol has issued 42 fines to students so far this month for breaking coronavirus rules around gatherings.

The university has been dealing with a coronavirus outbreak among its students since the beginning of October, which has seen more than 1,150 students test positive so far.

The University of Bristol has now explained more about the disciplinary action it has taken when students have breached the rules.

David Tonkin, head of estates at the university, told a Bristol Live

Q&A event on Friday that eight students had been fined in the last week alone.

Describing it as typical, he said a night last week involved five interventions in halls of residences due to noise complaints and illegal gatherings.

The university has now released more information about this and said it has issued 42 fines across halls of residences and in the private sector since the start of October – six at £250 for arranging a gathering which breaks coronavirus rules and 36 at £100 for attending a gathering.

No students have been expelled or suspended for breaking coronavirus-related rules.

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “The vast majority of our students have behaved impeccably since they returned to campus a month ago and have followed the rules around social distancing set by both the Government and the University.

“We would like to thank them for this.

“Our approach has primarily been to encourage students to follow these rules, remind them why they are in place and to mitigate the impact bad behaviour has on everyone else’s student experience.

“Unfortunately, it has been necessary to take disciplinary action when students have breached the rules.”

The statement added: “Over the last two weeks we have been pleased and encouraged to see a marked reduction in reports of student gatherings and parties.”