The SU Council has voted against a policy to ban police officers from university grounds in non-emergency situations.
The policy, “Cops off Campus”, proposed to completely ban police officers, whether on-duty or plain clothed, from SU premises unless responding to emergencies.
Geography Councillor Louis Poyelle, who put forward the policy, said the police cannot be trusted to act in students’ best interests.
Louis said: “The police are a controversial organisation, it’s institutionally racist and there are plenty of reasons for distrust of the police force.”
The proposal also stated that police advertising would not be allowed onto SU premises or into SU-organised events.
Holly Fake, Disability Councillor, said in the meeting: “We should not restrict access of the police to campus.”
She added: “Limiting access to emergencies makes staff accountable for what counts as an emergency.”
Rebecca Nelsey, Language and Cultures Councillor, said: “SU staff are capable of understanding what is an urgent situation they cannot do with, that is an emergency.
“As a queer person of a marginalised gender, I feel uncomfortable around police and it feels like a threat.”
Women’s Councillor Caitlin Hatton suggested in the meeting it could be a more productive idea to encourage people to go to the campus security rather than the police.
The policy failed with 20 votes against the proposal, and 19 votes in favour.
11 councillors abstained.
The minutes for all SU Council meetings can be found on the SU website.
