College responds to changing challenges with £1.5m investment in campus safety
A college has significantly expanded its investment in campus safety and student protection as further education providers increasingly respond to the complex challenges facing young people today.
West Herts College Group, which operates campuses in Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Luton, has invested more than £1.5 million in security staffing and campus safety measures over the past three academic years as part of a broader strategy focused on safeguarding, prevention and student wellbeing.
Gill Worgan CBE, principal and CEO, said: “The reality is that colleges today play a much broader role in supporting and protecting young people than they did even a decade ago.
“As a public space, it is our responsibility to be well-prepared. That means creating environments where students feel safe, supported and able to focus on learning, while also ensuring we have the right training, partnerships and systems in place to respond to an increasingly complex range of challenges.”
While visible security remains an important part of the approach, College leaders say modern campus safety now extends far beyond guards and CCTV systems.
The College works closely with police forces, local authorities, youth services and safeguarding agencies across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire to respond to issues including online harm, exploitation, serious youth violence, mental health concerns and community safety. Staff also participate in multi-agency forums focused on youth violence prevention, safeguarding and early intervention.
Alongside increased on-site security presence, the College has invested in campus access controls, CCTV upgrades, emergency communication systems, staff training and student safety education programmes covering personal safety, online risks, violence prevention and drug and alcohol awareness.
The approach also aligns with the direction of travel set out in Martyn’s Law, the forthcoming Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, although College leaders stress that safety planning and emergency preparedness have long formed part of the organisation’s wider safeguarding responsibilities.
Gill said: “Colleges are no longer simply places of education; they are large, open community environments supporting thousands of young people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. Issues such as online harm, mental health concerns and youth violence increasingly form part of the safeguarding landscape that education providers must be equipped to respond to.
“Much of this work happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is a hugely important part of creating the calm, welcoming and supportive environments that students and parents rightly expect. Our approach is about reassurance, preparedness and early intervention, not alarmism.”
The College says its approach is intentionally preventative rather than reactive, with a strong emphasis on partnership working, early intervention and creating calm, welcoming campuses rather than overtly restrictive environments.
As part of this work, students regularly engage with external organisations and emergency services through events, workshops and awareness campaigns focused on topics such as online safety, violence reduction, personal safety and wellbeing.
The College recently completed a further review of campus security and emergency planning arrangements, resulting in additional improvements to signage, access systems and emergency preparedness measures across sites.