The UK’s UK’s Best Best Student Student Publication Publication 2023 2023 The
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ISSUE 765 29 JAN 2025 exepose.com @exepose
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987 Image: Nilfanion
Knife crime rates in Exeter nearly double since 2019 University of Exeter’s Cairo campus Page 3
Callum Martin Online Editor-in-Chief
EXCLUSIVE Is Dry January an achievable goal? Page 16
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT RELATING TO VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING
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NIFE crime in Exeter has risen significantly in the last five years, according to data obtained by Exeposé. A Freedom of Information request revealed 99 recorded offences in the first nine months of 2024, nearly double the amount for the whole of 2019.
The most common offences in 2024 were assault with injury (33), assault with intent to cause harm (24) and robbery of personal property (24). The data also records five sexual assaults, two rapes and two attempted murders. Devon and Cornwall Police say that the data “is in line with a national increase seen with this crime type, but is much lower than in other areas of the country.” While it’s true that knife crime is rising nationally, the increase in Exeter’s figures is still steep, with an 80 per cent increase since 2019 compared to 2.4 per cent nationally, though it should be noted that much smaller sample sizes inevitably lead to bigger percentage swings.
The area of the city with the highest concentration of knife crime is Sidwell Street, whose residents and business owners frequently complain of disorder and antisocial behaviour. Two years ago, in Exeter’s only knife murder since 2019, Stephen Cook was stabbed to death in an altercation outside Sidwell Street’s Betfred. The Students’ Guild said, “the rising cases of knife crime in Exeter are deeply troubling, and we stand with all those who have been affected by this serious crime.” There have been no recorded knife crime offences on Exeter University grounds since an assault with injury on Streatham campus in late 2022. The University said that “the safety and security of students is our
highest priority.” It is a partner in the Exeter Community Safety Partnership which funds night time safety measures in the city centre, including increased CCTV and lighting. Devon and Cornwall Police added, “we would particularly like to remind young people that carrying a knife does NOT make them safer and that statistically 99 per cent of young people do not carry a knife. Fewer than one in a 1000 people carry a knife in Devon and Cornwall. We encourage anyone who has any information about knives, or concerns about someone carrying a knife, to please contact us via the Force website: dc.police.uk/tua.”
Around 180 staff voluntarily released last year Multilingual Article: Little Wales beyond Wales Page 27
Images (top to bottom): Univesity of Exeter, Pixabay.com, Hogyncymru, Wikimedia Commons
Charlie Gershinson Deputy Editor
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EXCLUSIVE
TOTAL of around 180 members of staff at the University of Exeter have left voluntarily as part of a release scheme, it has been revealed. According to the University’s latest annual financial statement, the figure of 180 staff members who voluntarily
resigned as part of The Exeter Release Scheme (TERS) has led to an impact of £8.5 million less being spent on staffing costs over the course of a whole year. As part of TERS, staff who tendered their notice before the 31st July 2024 had access to an enhanced severance package amounting to £8.7 million with back pay of 14 months. Many had left by the end of August 2024. The annual report stated numerous reasons for TERS being opened. These include the implementation of an already agreed upon pay reward of five per
cent to existing staff members, investments in digital and sustainability strategies, investments for strategies in favour of the University’s ‘Strategy 2030’ and a slower growth in income. Combined, these factors led to the University taking “corrective action”, creating TERS. The creation and implementation of TERS has led to opposition from the Exeter chapter of the University and College Union (UCU). At the chapter’s annual general meeting in June 2024, the UCU passed a motion of no confidence as a result of concerns about
the scheme. The motion came primarily due to a lack of clear financial details which informed the formation of the scheme which would have been provided to Exeter City Council for approval but not to staff members. In the same motion, the chapter resolved to make preparations for future industrial action after prolonged strikes took place during the 2022-23 academic year. However, no action has yet been taken. Continued on page 4