University campus searched by police after bomb threat

City’s second scare received in recent weeks ‘Making a hoax call is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty is six months in prison and a £5,000 fine’

Canterbury Christ Church University was searched by police after another bomb threat in the city.

Bosses received a “malicious communication” via a website contact form on Friday morning.

It was reported to police and officers scoured the North Holmes Road campus, but none of the buildings had to be evacuated.

The incident comes little more than a month after buildings at the University of Kent were evacuated following an anonymous phone call which sparked a bomb scare.

It’s believed the message last week said a bomb had been placed on one of the campuses, but police have said there is no evidence to suggest the two hoaxes are linked.

A notice entitled Security Incident on the student news section of Christ Church’s website says there have been a number of threats received by educational institutions across the country in recent weeks, but a spokesman says this is the only one it has had.

It also advises students to report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary to the university’s security team.

Chief inspector Kevin Dyer said both incidents are being actively investigated and urged anyone with any information about either of them to get in touch.

“Making a hoax call is a criminal offence,” he said. “The max- imum penalty is six months in prison and a £5,000 fine.

“People who make hoax calls should realise the consequences of their actions.

“By diverting people resources from genuine emergencies they could be placing the lives of others at risk.”

Anyone with information about the hoaxes should call police on 01843 222289 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting reference ZY/29817/15.