Now is the time to have town street marshals

CARPE Diem - seize the day. We believe it’s time for Street Marshals.

It became time for Street Marshals after the resident had their fence destroyed for a third time by drunken student behaviour in the early hours.

It was also time when I witnessed a student girl, in freezing weather, heavily drunk, attempting to walk home on her own. And it was time when sadly a student girl was attacked on a town road in the early hours.

Two of many basic human rights that we have are to be able to go out anytime we wish, but also that we can expect a night’s sleep, without disturbance from anti social behaviour.

In our town we have an equation to solve - and the answer, if we choose to actively solve it, will reap us a great reward.

The parts of the sum are: a huge, popular university. Huge swathes of streets packed with over 2,500 landlord owned houses in multiple occupation. A plentiful supply of alcohol, bars and clubs. Up to 17000 bright, lively young people. Immature behaviour, caused by excess drinking. A very angry local population. The university stating that they are short of resources and that there is no evidence of a major problem.

What is the answer to this complex equation? Answer: A Street Marshal Scheme.

The headline figures? A 32 per cent reduction in ASB complaints in Leamington Spa’s student areas.

A 9.5 per cent reduction in noise complaints in Canterbury, during the first nine month trial of an exact replica scheme of Warwicks.

A saving to the police and economy of up to £300,000 in thwarted crime and disturbance in Leamington.

Zero attacks on students in Leamington or Canterbury during the night’s that the street marshals were on patrol.

Top universities in the US flying people from Kent and Christ Church universities over to explain to them how the scheme is so successful and why it will work in America too.

Now, I have spoken before in the Echo about street marshal schemes, therefore many will already know about the campaign. For those who are unsure, please allow me to uncover some myths about street marshals:

Firstly, they are heavy handed bouncer style security. Reality: they are highly trained, mature adults, with Chief Constable delegated police powers to demand name and address and confiscate alcohol in the street. In Leamington and Canterbury the Marshals have never had to use taking name and address , such is the deterrent! There has never been a physical confrontation with a student. Marshals go through as much vetting as a police officer and can never have been a doorman.

Myth: Marshals are not caring. Reality: they are usually parents themselves, who walk students home, administer first aid provide counsel. They work in mixed pairs.

Myth: Loughborough already has a street marshal scheme.

Reality: we have a support scheme, which employs students.

They have no police delegated powers. They only work two evenings a week on a maximum of three streets (Street Marshals, however, cover all student areas).

Myth: This is all about discipline of students, whom are all bad.

Reality: nearly all students are great young people. With their limited life experience, the effects of alcohol can easily cause them to become too loud and worse (and this is where the problem begins).

Carpe Diem - seize the day; this summer has seen a real change in opinion, however our window of opportunity is very tight, possibly one term only and then it could never return.

Because of the overwhelming evidence from Leamington and Canterbury, the fact that our situation has not improved as we had hoped for in 2015, the public and community leaders now know that in 2017, it is time for Street Marshals.

The problem in solving this equation is the university assertion that funding is an issue for them, as is the lack of evidence of a problem in Loughborough with transient noise distances, which of course could be interpreted as the fact that there is no major problem with late night /early hours noise.

So, to solve this part of the equation we need to take immediate action, not tomorrow, action right this second:

What I plead for is your help. When you are awoken by student noise, write down what happened. In the morning, either call the university security on 222141,or if you prefer, call your local councillor and request that they report what happened.

We know completely what problems exist, where and when. This is simply case of recording what already happens (what we already know - that it’s time for Street Marshals). So, I finish where we began. Back at the house with the repeatedly broken fence, with a daughter who could not sleep due to noise, less than 10 hours before a crucial GCSE. To the young student, who was attacked. To the girl who needed someone to walk her home safely. To the thousands of decent, honourable Loughborough people, who simply love students, but just want to go to sleep.

All of this will continue if we do not persuade the university to find the funds to pay for a street marshal scheme, just like Warwick, Christ Church and Kent Universities have done, providing every penny for marshals, working seven nights a week.

All of this will continue if we do not show our friends at the University that the problem ever so clearly does exist. Carpe Diem, seize the day. We believe that it’s time for Street Marshals.

Councillor Ted Parton. Leicestershire and Charnwood Councillor.