STUDENT VOICE | Page 15

Introducing your new Campus Liaison Officer CLAIRE WALKER Our Campus Liaison Officer Claire Walker talks about her new role at Ayrshire College. What did you do before joining the College? a close working relationship with the Community Policing teams and college staff will be fundamental to ensuring success in the post and overcoming the geography of the role. Communication will also be important; I hope to be as visible as possible by being in key areas at key times and can be contacted via [email protected].” How do you feel about becoming Ayrshire College’s first Campus Liaison Officer? Through partnership working I aim to keep the College community safe and promote positive behaviour... “I’ve been a Police Officer serving Ayrshire for almost nine years. Before becoming a Police Officer, I worked in accountancy, and spent two years in recruitment. I am a former student of the old Ayr College, where I completed both the HNC and SVQ.” “I am delighted to be given this excellent opportunity. The role of Campus Liaison Officer for Ayrshire College is an important one and although there are already excellent relationships between Police Scotland and Ayrshire College, I hope through partnership working I can strengthen this relationship.” What do you feel will be your biggest challenge? “Being one person covering many locations will be challenging. There are Community Policing Team Officers who currently engage with the individual campuses across Ayrshire on an informal and ad-hoc basis. It is anticipated that THE STUDENT VOICE: EDITION 1 What do you think the reaction from students and staff will be of having a Police Officer on campus? “I hope the majority of staff and students will see the benefits to having a Police Officer assigned to Ayrshire College. This isn’t about ‘policing’ the College or criminalising students, it’s about intervening early to support young people as they develop.” What will be your role within the college community? “Communicating with, and establishing positive working relationships, with students and staff is important. I hope that with Police Scotland working in partnership with Ayrshire College, it w