By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad has announced a number of measures it says are aimed at improving the security of its students.

It says in January two new vehicles were purchased, which will be used for patrolling the outskirts of campus. This will bring a total of six vehicles merely for security purposes. Additionally, lighting has also been completed on Campus, which saw installation of electric lights on several parts of campus that were previously not well-lit.

The administration at the UWI Campus also says among the plans currently on the table to improve security in surrounding areas is the installation of closed circuit television cameras.

This will be executed on a phased basis, beginning with the main thoroughfares, entrances and car parks, followed by key buildings such as the Student Activity Centre, the Student Administration Building and the Halls of Residence.

It adds that currently in the pipeline are plans to install electronic barriers at the main entrances and turnstiles at the pedestrian gates, both using electromagnetic access technology.

The new security measures come in the wake of continued reports of students being robbed and attacked while in the vicinity of the Campus. There have also been several reports of rape.

A few weeks ago four students were attacked by bandits who reportedly took away students cell phones and laptop computers.

Since then there has been a heightened police presence backed up by University security personnel.