issue3

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Any questions? UEL Olympic Team – ext: 5959 email: 2012@uel.ac.uk

Thursday 5 July 2012

UEL Olympics bulletin – issue 3

Security

Welcome to the next edition of the UEL Olympics bulletin, focusing this week on campus security. This bulletin provides a summary of the information presented during the various security briefings that have taken place across campus recently, giving you a general overview of the security measures we are introducing for the Games.

For more information on any of the security measures, please contact Dr Sandy Bell on extension 2375.

Why are we enhancing security?

What measures have been introduced?

How will you be affected?

UEL is the largest non-official training venue in the UK and we are being used by the US team who attract the largest security concerns.

This offers us a unique opportunity to show the world that UEL is a safe place for high profile teams to train, both during the Olympics and for future events.

At the same time, it does bring some security risks as only official training venues attract the full benefit of the government Olympic security budget.

Terrorism, protest activity and the targeting of UEL's Games-time partners by local criminals are all security challenges that we have received intelligence about and have driven the introduction of enhanced security measures.

We have introduced various security measures including proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of something happening and reactive measures to reduce the impact should something happen.

Some of the measures are overt, such as vehicle barriers, fences, locked doors and more security guards.

Others are procedural measures regarding things such as the security vetting of those people with access to information that could be useful for terrorist or criminal intent and enhanced emergency response arrangements.

During the Games it is important to carefully control access to UEL premises. This is an essential part of the security system that is designed to keep staff, students and our Games-time visitors safe and secure.

Criminals typically try to blend in to remain anonymous so during the Games when a large number of additional people will be on campus, it is vital that we establish the identity of everyone coming onto campus.

This means you will need to confirm your identity and business at UEL when coming onto campus, despite the fact that you may have chatted to the very same security guards throughout the rest of the year.

Staying safe – what you can do

One of the most important things you can do is remain alert to your surroundings. Although Games-time will be different in many ways, UEL staff and students know their work areas best and are in a position to spot when something is not quite right.

You should keep an eye out for items that should not be there or seem out of place, such as carefully placed items in rubbish bins, unoccupied vehicles parked close to buildings and unusual interest shown by people in less accessible areas.

Report any suspicions to UEL Security on 020 8223 7771 (24-hour emergency line) regardless of how trivial they may seem. All reports, including false alarms, will be taken seriously and are a valuable contribution to everyone's safety.

Keeping our Games-time partners and their privacy safe

There are many people who will be interested in UEL's hosting activities. The vast majority of these will be innocent but a small fraction may be motivated by personal gain. Therefore, you should take care to ensure that unguarded talk does not give useful information to potential threats.

This means that although you are welcome to share the good news that UEL is hosting a significant Olympic and Paralympic contingent, you should steer clear of details regarding training schedules and individual athletes and personalities.

Remember to:

Stay alert to your surroundings and anything that seems out of the ordinary.
Report suspicions immediately.
Do not touch suspect objects.
Do not use your mobile phone within 15 metres of a suspicious object.

Facilities available during Games-time

Student Helpdesk

A centralised Student Helpdesk for Schools and Services will provide a face-to-face service for current students from 11am – 3pm, Monday – Friday, from 23 July – 10 August in CC.G.06 at Stratford Campus. In the first instance, students are encouraged to email Schools and Services directly with any specific queries relating to individual Schools/Services; however, the face-to-face Student Helpdesk is available for those students who require further assistance with general queries. The Helpdesk will be covered by representatives from the Schools, Student Services, International Office and Students' Union.

Credit Control will also be available at the centralised Student Helpdesk from 11am – 3pm, Monday – Friday, between 30 July – 10 August only.

Click here for further information on this service, including email addresses of all individual Schools and Services.

Cashiers

The cashiers will be open all summer but during the peak Games period (27 July – 12 August) they will be open from 7.30am – 3.30pm, Monday – Friday for students and petty cash.

Credit Control

There will be no credit control service provided at Docklands Campus between 30 July – 10 August. During this period there will be two credit controllers providing a face-to-face service from 11am – 3pm, Monday – Friday, at the centralised Student Helpdesk at Stratford Campus.

Restricted library access

From Monday 9 July – Monday 10 September access to all UEL libraries will be restricted to UEL students and staff only. Libraries will be closed to all external visitors, Sconol Access card holders and non-swipe cards.

SportsDock

SportsDock will close to staff and the general public on Sunday 8 July at 10.30pm. It will reopen on Thursday 16 August. For more details on opening and closing times, visit the SportsDock website.

Other notices

Visitors to campus

Any campus visitors must be registered with the 2012 team at least 12 hours in advance in order for them to be expected at Security. Email 2012@uel.ac.uk or call ext. 5959 to arrange this.

RideShare

A new website which allows UEL staff to lift-share with colleagues is now available for use. RideShare allows users to quickly and securely find car-share partners by matching people based on location, route, working hours and special preferences. The service can also match those who wish to walk, cycle or use taxis. Register at uelrideshare.com

Toner and stationery

We have been advised by Oce suppliers that from Friday 20 July to Friday 14 September, there may be delays in supplying you with toner or other consumables, such as staples, for your office copier or printing machines.

Please check your stock levels and place orders well in advance with Oce to ensure you have contingency stock in place.

For toner and suppliers call: 01277 846 319
For engineering call outs call: 0870 600 6498

Newham launches The Ideas Olympiad

Newham Council will soon host The Ideas Olympiad, a free series of public events throughout July which will feature high profile and interesting speakers such as David Bailey and Robert Winston, sharing their ideas and visions of the future. The events are free however tickets must be booked in advance. Click here for more information and to register.

Missed an issue?

If you have missed the previous two issues of UEL’s Olympics bulletin, see issue 1 to read about working arrangements during the Games and see issue 2 to read about parking and travel.