Issue 1247 - The Courier

Th eCourier Tuesday 6 March 2012
news.5
Cars hit by mindless damage in Jesmond
SCRATCH
AND RUN
Perpetrators targeted first
one side, then the other of
Larkspur Terrace to mindlessly
damage residents’
cars parked outside their
homes.
Photography: Katie
Leitch
By Kat Bannon
Editor
A number of cars in Jesmond have
been repeatedly hit by vandalism.
Police are currently investigating the
repeated scratching of parked cars on
Larkspur Terrace, and other nearby
roads, that has taken place over the
last couple of weeks.
Overnight between Wednesday 22
February and Thursday 23 February,
12 vehicles were reported as damaged.
Following this, between Friday 24
February and Monday 27 February, a
further 11 incidents were reported in
the same street, with numerous panels
on each vehicle damaged.
Perpetrators have focused on the
end of the road connecting Larkspur
Terrace to Mistletoe Road, seemingly
trying to avoid CCTV situated at Coral
betting shop on the corner.
They first targeted cars parked on
one side of the road, and then the other,
stopping halfway down the street.
As part of their investigation plain
clothed as well as uniformed officers
have been on duty around the area.
Also, one resident of Larkspur Terrace,
who also happens to be a professor
at the University, was asked by
police for access to an attic room in
his house overnight in order to have
the best viewing vantage point of the
whole street.
A third-year History student said
her car was one of those hit on the
first evening.
“It doesn’t seem like they’re personally
attacking students - they go for
any car on the street. Then just odd
cars are missed out.
“It’s a pointless, random act of vandalism
and it’s completely unfair.
“It’s so disheartening that people
think they can get away with this.
They aren’t gaining anything either.
I’ve been hit with a completely unnecessary
expenditure.”
The case is currently being dealt
with by the area’s Neighbourhood Policing
Team.
PC Mike Fawcett, of the Newcastle
East Neighbourhood Policing Team,
said: “The panels have been scratched
to the bare metal meaning the vehicles
will need to be re-sprayed costing
the victims large amounts of money.
“This is absolutely mindless damage
causing anger and frustration
amongst those people affected. Criminal
damage not only impacts on the
individual but also the wider community.
“We’re carrying out enquiries to
trace the person or people responsible
for this spate of damage and there will
be additional patrols in the area. Officers
are also checking CCTV footage.
“People are urged to pass any information
they have - they can do this
anonymously - about who is responsible.
It’s important these people are
identified so they can be dealt with
appropriately for causing such an extensive
amount of damage.”
Anyone with information can
contact police on 101 ext 69191, or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800
555 111. Callers to Crimestoppers
could be eligible for a cash reward.
400 students warned for improper use of ISS
By Wills Robinson
News Editor
A number of Newcastle students have
been warned for improper use of the
universities computer services.
Last year, 411 students received
warnings via email for visiting sites
with indecent, obscene or abusive
content, with 98 students receiving
second warnings about their failure to
comply with the Universities’ policy
on internet usage.
35 students were then interviewed
for continuing to misuse servers with
23 students having their accounts suspended
by Information Systems and
Services (ISS).
As of yet, however, there have been
no referrals to the police for severe
breaches of the ISS policies.
Misuse of the computer services can
result in extreme circumstances for
students, such as suspension or exclusion
from the University, as well as
the potential of criminal proceedings.
A first-year student living in Richardson
Road, who preferred to remain
anonymous said: “I received a
warning email during my first semester.
It was a genuine surprise as I had
no idea that the sites we visited were
being closely monitored.
“Then I found out we could be
thrown out of university, which really
35 students were then interviewed for
continuing to misuse servers with 23
students having their accounts suspended.
did give me a shock.
“Now, its safe to say, I try and stick
to Facebook and Twitter”.
Internet use is monitored on all
computers with are connected to the
Universities’ server, including those
in computer clusters, libraries and
halls of residence, both on and off site.
Newcastle follows the requirements
of JANET (Joint Academic Network)
AUP (Acceptable Use Policy), which
details the types of internet activity
that are deemed unacceptable. This
can vary anywhere from pornographic
material to extremist or terrorist
based sites.
ISS staff do not perform random
checks on internet activity, with manual
detection being used to spot habitual
breaches of the system’s policy.
When a student is alleged to have
breached the policy, he will be asked
through email to stop immediately.
Then, if unacceptable usage persists,
the students will be constantly sent
emails threatening them with account
suspension.
In their Statement on Internet use,
the University stresses the role of the
Internet on campus for undertaking
their academic coursework or research.
However, the university does
concede that students can also use the
system for personal use, as long as it is
in line with ISS usage policies.
CHECK
WHERE YOU
CLICK
Students risk their academic
future if they misuse
the Universities’ internet
systems.
Photography: Rachel
Wilson