The University of Warwick’s new campus policeman Mick Parkes has been one of the most active officers the campus has ever seen. In just a few weeks he has been key a number of detections and arrests of people abusing the free access to campus. While there are seven police officers who have the University as part of their patch the University has just one totally dedicated officer  for its 750 acre main campus. How do we spread him around? –Answer buy him his own 25 mph police buggy.

In the first such partnership of its kind in the UK the University of Warwick has worked with West Midlands Police and  supplier mygolfbuggy.com to provide the officer assigned to campus with a fully police liveried, environmentally friendly, electric transport that allows the University’s dedicated Police officer to reach every corner of the campus within minutes.

University of Warwick Head of Security Tracy Phipps said:

“This will make a real difference to policing on campus. Mick has been our dedicated officer in every sense of the word. He has developed a close working relationship with our own security team that has already brought results. We are delighted to be able to provide this way of allowing him to quickly access our whole campus. The buggy will make a real difference but only because of the hard work and dedication of the man it carries”

Sergeant Mary Jones from the West Midlands Police Fletchamstead Highway police station said:

"It has been a pleasure working in partnership with the University of Warwick on this project helping them make the university campus a safer environment"

Photo Call: The Buggy arrives on Campus on Wednesday 20^th May. There will be a photocall with the Buggy, Officer Mick Parkes, Head of Security Tracy Phipps, Warwick’s Deputy Registrar Ken Sloan and Sergeant Mary Jones from West Midlands Police, at 4.15pm at the rear of the University House building. Photographers should report to University House reception and ask for Kelly Parkes-Harrison details below.

For further information please contact:

Please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Communications Officer,
University of Warwick, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk, 02476 150483/74255, 07824 540863.

or

Kam Raju, Communications & Reassurance Officer
West Midlands Police, Chace Avenue police station
Switchboard: 0845 113 5000 ext 7934 6007

PR40 20^th May 2009