Grange Road

In Easter term this year, two female students from Homerton were assaulted at 23:00 on the junction of Grange Road and Barton Road. As they were cycling they were approached by three males in hooded jackets, who pushed one of the girls from her bicycle and attempted to steal her bag.Homerton students were warned by the Police Liaison Officer for Cambridge that, “although Cambridge is a safe place to study and to work we would encourage students to think about their personal safety when out and about and to always [sic] report any suspicious activity immediately to the Police if appropriate, or at the very least to the Porters’ Lodge.” At the time, extra patrols were arranged by the Police and by University Security.

 

Madingley Road Area

At the beginning of this term, a female student in the vicinity of Clarkson Road was approached by a man on a bike who pestered her for ‘directions’ and then followed her to Madingley Road. The presence of other students then caused him to leave.

In an email circulated by the Senior Tutor, Churchill students were told, “Those of you who are not new to Churchill know from experience that this area, like any other, is periodically subject to the attention of prowlers and sneak-thieves.”

The College in particular advised females to be “on their guard” in the vicinity of Clarkson Road and to avoid walking there alone after dark.

The area around Churchill, Murray Edwards and Fitzwilliam is notorious fo the number of incidents of assault, including flashing and the menace of prowlers.
One student commented, “I have heard a lot of cases where my female friends have been followed or harassed on their way home. I certainly don’t feel safe walking back alone at night.”

 

The Avenue, Trinity College

An unlit path leading from Trinity backs to second-year acommodation in Burrell’s Field, has caused an ongoing dispute between students and the College.

Trinity has advised its students to use an alternative, better lit route. However, the JCR President commented, “People just can’t be bothered to walk that far, and so laziness seems to win out over concerns for personal safety among students.”

Being attacked is not the only worry for members of the College. Concerns have also been raised by Fellows of the College, who drive along the Avenue after dark.

One Fellow expressed fears of running over students when driving out of College in the evening, because his visibility was so impaired by the lack of lighting.

 

Mortimer Road

In March 2009 a Gonville and Caius student was assaulted and robbed when he was returning to his accommodation in Mortimer Road at around midnight.

He was approached by a gang of teenage white males, one riding a bike, who demanded the student hand over a mobile phone and money under the threat of being stabbed. The student was then subsequently kicked and punched by around three members of the gang.

Students were told to avoid walking alone late at night, be vigilant at all times and report anything unusual to the Police.

One Gonville and Caius student told Varsity: “At the time of this incident, people were really shocked by what had happened. In fact a petition was set up to pressure the College into making the area safer.”

 

St Edwards Passage

Frequently used by students as a quick route when returning from a night out, it has been the scene of numerous incidents of assault, due to the fact that it is a poorly lit and secluded side street.

Three students were assaulted in March when returning to their accommodation in Spalding hostel.

Last Michaelmas, a fourth-year student was forced to the ground by a gang of youths and badly beaten.

Incidents such as these have prompted student outcry at the lack of lighting.