A report referred to as for extra universities to warn college students at freshers’ weeks
/ PA Wireniversity college students in London are susceptible to exploitation by county traces gangs and ought to be warned of the hazards throughout freshers’ weeks, a brand new report says.
London’s 50,000 college students are interesting targets for medicine gangs, with worldwide college students notably susceptible, it warned.
The report, by the Dwelling Workplace’s Violence and Vulnerability Unit on behalf of the London Greater physique, discovered some London universities and schools are already taking steps to guard college students — with one liaising with the safety staff of a nightclub.
Nevertheless it referred to as for extra universities to warn college students at freshers’ weeks concerning the risks of county traces gangs, and for workers to be educated to identify the indicators that college students could also be in hassle.
Details about county traces — the transferring of medication from one space to a different by gangs and felony networks — should be included in introductory occasions for brand new college students, the report mentioned, in addition to at scholar socials and on-line.
It really helpful “utilizing Welcome Week and different introductory occasions to facilitate focused occasions with police in addition to with folks with lived expertise of county traces and exploitation.” It additionally referred to as for college students to be surveyed about their experiences of county traces.
The report warned that the big numbers of scholars in London’s 50 greater training establishments symbolize a “probably profitable drug market”. Gangs have the chance to take advantage of college students by “cuckooing” — the place they take over lodging to run medicine operations from — and for drug working on a bigger scale.
College students are focused as a result of they are often absent for days with out being reported, it mentioned. They’re additionally susceptible as a result of they’re “usually in want of cash.” Worldwide college students could also be most in danger as a result of their fears over their visa standing and mistrust of police.
Researchers reviewed six nameless greater training establishments in London. At some, automated quantity plate recognition is used to establish automobiles linked to county traces. However it’s feared “zero medicine” insurance policies at some universities could put college students off elevating fears about gangs.