Crime in Albion, Manchester negatively affecting NCU students, residents

By Kimone Witter    

 

The recent spate of murders and shootings in Albion, Manchester, have led some students of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) to rethink where they seek accommodation off campus.

 

The community is in close proximity to the university.

 

Renox Seiveright, Director of Security and Risk Management at NCU, says this has had a financial impact on students who have to rent space further away from the institution as well as residents of the community who lose rental income.

 

At least three murders were recorded in Albion this month, which led the police, political directorate and residents to stage a walkthrough on Thursday.

 

Addressing a community meeting at Albion Primary School following the walk-through, Mr. Seiveright said students need reassurance from residents of Albion that they will assist the police in keeping crime out of the community. 

 

"We cannot house more than about 10 per cent of the student population on campus. So essentially therefore 90 per cent of our students are living elsewhere in the communities around. So the big question is what is Albion and the community around going to do to give some assurance to NCU students that they can live freely, they can move about freely and they don't have to be walking and watching behind them?"

 

Meanwhile, Principal of Albion Primary, Paulette Cheddar, said the school has, for years, engaged the students in Restorative Justice practices.

 

Ms. Cheddar appealed to the community to partner with the school to restore peace. 

 

"In 2019, when we celebrated our 125th anniversary, something similar was happening in the community. It was so much so that we had a peace march... and we thought it made a difference," she recounted.  

 

She admitted what while crime levels fluctuate over time, the community must try to keep incidents low so residents and students can feel safe and comfortable.