The University of Sunderland has achieved the prestigious Secured Environments award for a second time, by demonstrating its commitment to good security management. The award was presented to the University on 3 October 2023 by Superintendent Rob Bosson of Northumbria Police.

Originally a technical college established in 1901, with university status gained in 1992, the University has been ranked as a Top 50 university in the Guardian University Guide 2024. There are two main campuses in the city of Sunderland, one of which hosts the National Glass Centre, a well-known cultural venue.

To achieve the Secured Environments award, the University underwent a thorough audit of their security processes and procedures, as well as consultation with staff, to verify that they were following six key principles to maximise the security of staff, students and visitors.

University of Sunderland makes the grade

The six key principles of the Secured Environment accreditation are: a commitment by an organisation and its leadership to create a secure environment; an understanding of the security risks that it faces; the development of an effective response to reduce the risks to the organisation; a management plan to achieve its aims and objectives; the effective implementation of the security and crime prevention measures; and the monitoring and evaluation of the security and crime prevention measures.

The University is actively taking steps to address and mitigate gender based and sexual violence in response to increasing reports of offences affecting higher education students nationally. The University works in close partnership with a number of external organisations to address and respond to local issues.

Andy Mulligan, Security Manager, University of Sunderland said: “I am delighted that the University has again been accredited by Secured Environments. Having initially achieved this award following an extensive restructure it is testament to the dedication of those involved that we continue to deliver a high standard of security to the university community. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in making this achievement a reality. Together, we continue to prioritise safety and security at the University of Sunderland.”

Superintendent Rob Bosson, Northumbria Police added: “We are delighted to have presented the University with this well-deserved award and would like to congratulate everyone involved. We are proud of the fantastic relationship that we have with the University, working together to detect and prevent crime, and we look forward to building on this excellent collaboration to continue to keep the students and public safe in our community.”

Guy Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives said: “Many congratulations to the University of Sunderland for recognising and rising to this challenge and for meeting the high standards required to achieve the Secured Environments award. Secured Environments provides a framework for managing security and ensuring it is effective and that staff at all levels are involved. The prioritisation of good security is crucial and is valued by employees, students and indeed their parents”.

What is Secured Environments?

Secured Environments is a police certification scheme. It was established in 2007 and provides a framework for managing and meeting the challenges faced, and it enables organisations to refine their approach and demonstrate that it is effective. The aim is to help organisations to think about their risks and how to make the best use of measures they already have.

Secured Environments was developed through the partnership of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives and Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International Limited (PRCI), a specialist in crime, risk and security management.

Secured Environments locations include landmark buildings, shopping centres, universities, halls of residence, land estates and business premises.

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