WATCH ABOVE: The start of university is just weeks away and today UBC announced security improvements. Rumina Daya explains.
Dozens of tips have come in after BC RCMP released a composite sketch of a man they believe is behind six sex assaults at the University of British Columbia.
However, the suspect is still at large.
Now, UBC says it will be looking to improve the safety of its Vancouver Point Grey campus as students head back to school in just a few weeks’ time.
University says it will spend $750,000 on lighting and landscaping enhancements and another $250,000 on education programs.
The enhancements will involve upgrading existing lighting systems, using higher luminosity bulbs, installation of additional light fixtures and pruning of trees and vegetation along paths and around light standards.
The school says the changes will create more open, better-lit walking pathways around campus.
Other measures include providing more support for the Safewalk program and developing new safety features for the UBC mobile app.
The changes are supposed to address recommendations provided in the report filed by Campus Safety Working Group in June.
However, UBC will not be installing more surveillance cameras come September.
University says it will consult with campus stakeholders and security experts regarding the use of CCTV cameras at main entry points to the Point Grey campus.
It says, “further investigation is needed on CCTV cameras, since research evidence indicates low crime prevention effectiveness in environments such as the UBC Vancouver campus.”
The Campus Safety Working Group report called for the university to seek community input on expansion of electronic surveillance and the use of CCTV cameras.
“As part of this process, the University will develop a clear policy to address the implementation and appropriate use of CCTV camera surveillance on campus taking into account all relevant privacy considerations,” said the report.
Six women were sexually assaulted on campus grounds in separate attacks on April 19, May 19, September 28, October 13,October 19 and October 27, raising concerns about campus safety.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male with a slightly darker or olive skin tone, possibly tanned, in his mid to late 20’s or even early 30’s, with a thin build, somewhere in the range o f5’8 to 6’2 tall, with a long, rounder chin and face with a straight nose, broad forehead and short dark hair, wearing a hoodie.
Anyone with information is asked to call the BC RCMP Major Crimes Section’s tip line at 778-290-5291 or toll free at 1-877-543-4822.
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