BOP Security Manhandles Female Students

Female students from Owens Park put together a letter of complaint following a physical and verbal attack made on them by a security guard, whom they described as “rough…inappropriate” and “humiliating”.

They expressed concern over the “unprofessional” and “aggressive” conduct of door staff at Owens Park. Alexandra Preston-Morley along with six other students claimed that the head doorman at the time “physically manhandled” them by “grabbing our arms in a rough manner”, after accusing the girls of queue pushing.

The letter said: “We were not the only people on the night who suffered at the hands of the BOP security and we are aware that several complaints were submitted on the night and throughout the course of the past academic year regarding issues relating to the BOP security staff.”

A spokesman confirmed that the University received a letter of complaint regarding the forceful behaviour of security staff. “Swift action has been taken to address the issue and an urgent meeting was organised with the security firm responsible for the event.

“At this meeting, the standards of conduct and professionalism expected by the University were reiterated to the company.”

National Security Network were hired by the University to look after the BOP. The prestigious security company based in Chorley, who also looked after Baa Bar and Opus, said: “We are still fully investigating the incident. We are liaising with Owens Park staff and the BOP and hope this continues.”

The University of Manchester’s own team of uniformed security staff look after both the academic and residential areas on campus, but not the popular fancy dress night that is the BOP.

A University spokesman said: “The Area Operations Manager for Bars On Campus has spoken to some of the students and is due to meet with them to further discuss their concerns and the action taken.

“Over the coming weeks security operations at The Bop will be closely monitored to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.”

The Area Operations Manager Emma Barlow has since been in touch with the seven students. Preston-Morley said that she had been extremely friendly and cooperative. “She’s been really good to us, and the last BOP was completely different.”

The head doorman in question coincidentally asked not to work at the last BOP following the complaints. One of the girls, Caroline Jones, said that the University had acted quickly. “Friday was much better, it went much more smoothly. They’ve handled it well.”

The BOP is Fallowfield’s most notorious student-halls night, where each event is themed and the music is often described as ‘cheesy’. The fire alarms are frequently set off as pranks, although this is widely acknowledged as part of life at Owens Park.

Last November, overcrowding in the popular venue resulted in several students sustaining injuries. Police attended the scene after being alarmed by phone calls that people were getting crushed in the queue, after the Owens Pak bar had reached full capacity and bouncers refused to let more people in.

A source from Owens Park bar said last week there was speculation that the BOP could get cancelled, but staff have adamantly denied that this was the case.

“It might [get cancelled] because the people at pastoral care will have attributed the fire alarms and the trouble purely to the BOP,” said the source.

“But that Friday [24th April] was nothing out of the ordinary. It was no worse than a normal night out.”

“I think part of the problem is that the students can’t cool off elsewhere like they can if they went for a night out in the city,” said the source.