SenseExeter wristband project launched by Guild

Image credit: Exeter Guild

A new project to raise awareness of student safety on nights out has been launched by the Guild.

The project, SenseExeter, aims to highlight issues of alcohol consumption and safety returning home at the end of the night. Chris Rootkin, VP Welfare and Community, handed out wristbands at two of the biggest student nights, Timepiece on Wednesday and the Lemon Grove on Saturday.

In a recent article in the National Student, Lee Sheriffe, a young person’s alcohol worker, discussed the common dangers associated with binge drinking and heavy use of alcohol. One of the high risks identified was that alcohol can cause “blackouts and severe memory loss”, leading to “poor decision making”.

SenseExeter aims to combat this by encouraging students to be aware of their alcohol consumption, walk in groups or take a taxi, and be considerate of local residents. Students were encouraged to enter a competition on the website, and there was a good response to the campaign.

Currently, nearly a thousand wristbands have been handed out, and the continuing project will be linked with a larger alcohol awareness campaign in the future.

Jon Craggs, fourth year Maths student, said: “Students can be vulnerable when they’re walking home after a night out, and I think it’s important that the Guild does what it can to protect them.”

Emily Hickley, an Economics student, said: “Although student safety is an issue that the Guild needs to address, I’m unsure that this is an effective way of doing so”.

Chris Rootkin, VP Welfare and Community, said: “The ‘How did I get home?’ wristband campaign was developed to encourage students to think about their personal safety as they make their way home.

“By directly and personally engaging with students I hope they have been encouraged to think about these issues and to take in the information at http://www.senseexeter.com. Following the wristband distribution the website has received over 1,100 page hits and 119 survey responses which will inform future welfare campaign planning.

“One of my priorities is to work closely with the Students’ Guild, the University and the Exeter Night-time Economy Group to ensure that our students stay safe when out at night”.

Helen Carrington, News Team

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Man arrested for attempted murder after stabbing in Exeter

A 49-year-old man was arrested today on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman was stabbed several times at a cemetery in Exeter.

Image Credit: Simon Li

According to the Express and Echo website, police were called at around 10.55 am to St. Bartholomew’s Cemetery on Bonhay Road, where a woman, aged 34, had been attacked.

A police helicopter helped officers in their search for the suspect, who was caught shortly after the incident.

The reasons behind the violence remain unclear but the victim’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, despite suffering several wounds.

The cemetery where the attack occurred is close to the city centre and not far from student accommodation at St.David’s and Point Exe.

Police have emphasised that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing. But Acting Exeter Sector Inspector Julian Pezzani told the Express and Echo: “We are grateful to everyone who has come forward already and we urge anyone else who may have seen what happened to get in touch with police.

“We would also like to thank the members of the public who helped the woman after she was attacked.”

Despite the sudden brutality of the attack a swift police operation to deal with the crime is comforting for local students. Fourth-year Accounting and Finance student Janaissa Eaglestone told Exeposé: “It’s very reassuring to know the police responded so quickly to such a serious incident”.

The police helicopter was crucial in dealing with today’s events. You can follow the work of Exeter’s National Police Air Service helicopter on Twitter via @NPAS_Exeter. The account tweeted about the incident earlier today.

Vehicle containing suspect for a stabbing in Bonhay Road, Exeter located by NPAS 44. Male now in Police custody.

— NPAS Exeter (@NPAS_Exeter) October 21, 2013

The attack provoked a number of shocked responses on the social networking site, with a number of users retweeting the Express and Echo report alongside exclamations of disbelief and condemnation.

Students who have any information about the crime should call 101 quoting incident number 262 and the date 21/10/13.

For more information about staying safe in Exeter visit Sense Exeter, a resource provided by the Students’ Guild.

Liam Trim, Online Editor