Police launch late night patrols to prevent sexual assaults

Fife police have launched a campaign which will see police officers patrolling the streets of St Andrews late at night

Under the ‘Safer Routes’ initiative, officers will patrol key routes used by students after hours. Street lighting is also being increased in order to reduce the chances of predators striking in unlit “blind spots.”

The scheme is the result of a major inquiry launched earlier this year, after a female student was sexually assaulted outside University Hall in the early hours of Sunday, 27 February.

Though uninjured, the victim was described as “shaken and visibly upset” by police. Her assailant escaped the scene.

Such instances of sexual assault are uncommon in St Andrews, but concerns following this incident were sufficient to see the Safer Routes initiative come into force.

Fife Constabulary’s Detective Chief Inspector John McDonald explained the scheme was designed to tackle the “perceived vulnerability” of young students walking alone after dark.

The survey “identifies the areas where people felt most vulnerable and crime prevention surveys were carried out,” said McDonald. ‘’Items of work to improve the areas, such as ensuring all street lighting is operating correctly, have been carried out.’’

“Police officers now regularly patrol these routes on foot,” continued McDonald. “Liason is ongoing with door stewards in the town centre for their help in ensuring everyone is able to get home safely.”

Students out and about in town after hours can expect to see an increased police presence. It remains to be seen, however, whether the rise in officers patrolling St Andrews late at night will result in increased police action against less serious offences, such as drinking on the street or urinating in public, which carry fixed penalty fines.

The scheme has attracted national media attention, with the Daily Record claiming that female students were “so scared of being sexually assaulted that they have asked for police protection.”

St Andrews’ Student Association President Patrick O’Hare was quoted in the Record as saying that sexual assault “happen[s] a lot more than people think… I don’t want to scaremonger, but things like sexual assault and drink spiking do go on here.”

However, O’Hare told The Saint that the quote was taken “out of context”, and said there’s no suggestion that St Andrews students are “living in fear” as the Record alleges. “Crime does happen in St Andrews of course, but overall the crime levels here are incredibly low compared with major cities,” he said.

“In fact, the Police’s Safer Routes priority…is related to safety in general and not to the incident in March or sexual assault in particular,” continued O’Hare.

Student reaction to the initiative was largely positive, though many expressed surprise that sexual assault was considered a problem in St Andrews.

Fourth year student Aggie Reeve said, “I feel much safer walking alone in St Andrews than I would in a big city, for example. Still, I guess the assault earlier this year shows it’s always important to be vigilant”.