Dear Vice-Chancellor and University Secretary

We are writing with urgency with regards to the safety of the students in the University of Leeds encampment.

 As you may be aware from social media (https://www.instagram.com/p/C7SC1crsdIM/?igsh=MTl6bHR4ZzVsb3l2cQ==) or from the students themselves, over the past nights the students have faced escalating threats of violence and disturbance late at night. This culminated last night in one of the group harassing the students threatening them with weapons, including a knife.

 The students have also been subjected to aggressive sexist and racist derogatory language, which should not be tolerated by any member of the university community.

 We cannot over-emphasise the urgency or danger of this situation. We ask you to immediately:

 – Ensure that the students have sufficient support from security and that security are focused on ensuring the safety of the students

– Advise what measures have been put in place – what advice given – to ensure the safety and wellbeing of colleagues in Security at this stressful time. Including providing a ‘place / person’ they can talk to in confidence, if the nature of this work is causing more than the usual stresses for individuals

– Meet the students’ demands as soon as possible in order to avoid further escalation

 We know that you will share our urgent concerns and agree that the safety of our students and our colleagues, and protecting students’ rights to peaceful protest must be the core objective of any response to the camp.

 Please advise us as to the steps you have taken to ensure the safety of our students and ensure our duty of care to them is fulfilled.

 We look forward to hearing from you,

UCU, UNISON and Unite

This page was last updated on 24 May 2024