Meeting held in Durham over river safety

Wednesday is one of the busiest student nights in Durham with many drinking excessively.

Our correspondent Gregg Easteal joined police patrols as they tried to raise awareness of the dangers the River Wear presents.

Durham University is cracking down on drinking culture after three students drowned in little over a year and a fourth had to be rescued from the river by a human chain.

The university is taking action after Sope Peters, 20, Luke Pearce, 19, and last month Euan Coulthard, also 19, died in the River Wear following nights out in the city.

A week after Mr Coulthard's body was found by a diver, police and fire officers pulled a 20-year-old student out of the river. He was treated in hospital for hypothermia.

Today agencies involved in river safety met to discuss ways to tackle the problem.

Professor Ray Hudson, acting vice-chancellor said senior management were treating "student safety and excessive alcohol consumption with the utmost seriousness".

Managers are to develop a volunteer scheme to work on night-time safety, increase alcohol education programmes and work with taxi firms to get at risk students home safely.

The university already has a minimum price policy in college bars and a policy of not serving drunken people.

It also has tried to shift the emphasis in college bars from being drinking venues to having a more social atmosphere, with coffee machines and cheap or free soft drinks at events.

Durham University’s senior management have released a statement saying that are "treating the matters of student safety and excessive alcohol consumption with the utmost seriousness."

Their comments came as a meeting took place in Durham to discuss how to make the river safer.

Agencies involved in river safety attended to look at a plan put forward by Durham County Council, following the death of student Euan Coulthard, who drowned in the river Wear last month.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Ray Hudson said: "We are committed to taking action but we recognise that these are issues which can only be addressed through a multi-agency approach. Addressing the alcohol culture which has developed in our society as a whole will involve a major shift in attitudes."

The University and Durham Students’ Union say they are working with their partners in the City Safety Group on a range of actions, which include:

· Developing a night time scheme supported by student volunteers to work alongside community safety volunteer groups

· Building on existing work to inform and educate students about staying safe and their personal wellbeing

· Establishing a new arrangement with identified taxi operators in the city whereby at risk students are given a safe method of getting home

Durham Students’ Union is also about to launch a £50k campaign, funded by Durham County Council, focused on promoting positive behaviours when drinking alcohol.

The University say they are already carrying out a range of actions targeting excessive alcohol consumption, including a minimum pricing policy in college bars.