Quad squad

The university is paying half the cost of four new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to work the beat on its private grounds and inside its ancient buildings and colleges.

It is the first time an arm of the police has been deployed to keep order at the university in its 900-year history.

Four community officers - costing the university £120,000 for the next two years - will wander freely around the courtyards, corridors and student accommodation when they start their beat next month.

They may even get their own police base at the university later in the year.

Oxford commander Supt Brendan O'Dowda said: "In recent years the university has seen greater expansion with more facilities and buildings being built, and the PCSOs will provide a visible policing presence to students, staff and visitors."

The university will pay 50 per cent of the funding for the officers over two years with police shelling out for the rest.

They are due to begin their beat on Monday, April 14, and will initially use St Aldate's Police Station.

PCSOs do not have the same powers of arrest as police officers, but they can issue fixed penalty notices for disorder, detain a suspect for 30 minutes, dispose of alcohol, carry out road checks and seize illegal vehicles.

Their main role in Oxfordshire has been to increase visibility on the streets and collect information and intelligence on suspects and crime trends which are passed to police officers.

A university spokesman said: "The officers will have access to college and university grounds.

"The extra posts will help the university look after the safety and security of staff and students, and will support Thames Valley Police with their workload, including policing university events such as exams and high-profile visits.

"There are 25,000 members of the university that does put an extra burden on police.

"There has not been a particular rise in any crime, but there are sometimes burglaries and general things that needs a police force."