Update 07/08 - Media reports about possible civil disturbance in Chatham
You may be aware that there have been social media reports of potential far right demonstrations around the UK including Chatham this evening. We have been liaising with Kent Police, Medway Council and Chatham Maritime Trust together with our partners at Medway. The current shared view is that if there is any disruption tonight, which is still uncertain, we believe that it will be several miles from our campus and therefore highly unlikely to have any direct impact on us.
However, to reassure you and as a precaution, we have increased security on campus today and will be closing Pilkington at 3pm and the library and campus cafes at 4pm. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and will update you if the situation changes.
As there is the likelihood of increased policing around the area later today that could result in travel disruption, please be mindful of this when planning your journey home and colleagues can travel home earlier if they wish and should coordinate this with their line manager.
The violent disorder which has taken place over the past week across the UK has been terrible to witness. We’re appalled by the actions of the far-right and stand with those who have been affected by riots in their local communities.
We're in touch with the police forces and Greenwich and Kent Councils, who will keep us up to date with the best and latest information. We encourage students and staff to be vigilant and prioritise their own safety. Colleagues are asked to talk to their managers about support they might need.
The impact of the riots is felt by us all, whether or not we have personally experienced the violence. At the University of Greenwich we’re committed to inclusion and to ensuring that our university is a welcoming and safe place for everyone. We are a global university, and we’re proud to welcome students from around the world and from diverse backgrounds. Our diversity is our strength.
Report and Support
We understand this is a difficult time and we encourage students and staff to make use of the wellbeing resources available. Report and Support is available to all students and staff where you can contact an advisor or report anonymously.
We take a firm approach to dealing with actions that have a negative impact on the safety and wellbeing of our community.
Further resources and support for staff and students
Our staff can access a wide range of information from our Employee Assistance Provider, including counselling services.
Our students can contact the Student Wellbeing Services for additional support, including counselling services, or access our 24/7 online support service Spectrum Life.
There is further information about staying safe on and off campus on the portal here. This article includes details for our campus specific emergency contact numbers should you ever need them.
