Revealed: University of Sheffield spends £248k on security for pro-Palestine protests

£16k was also spent on security for other student protest action

3 hours ago

Sam Burton | News

The University of Sheffield has spent £248,012 on security specifically relating to pro-Palestine protest action in 2024, The Sheffield Tab can reveal.

That figure includes the costs of hiring external security personnel, and dwarfs the £16,179 spent on other student protest action during the same period.

Numerous pro-Palestine protests and events have taken place involving university staff and students since October 2023 – including a three-month encampment outside the Student’s Union and a recent protest against the careers fair which saw protesters clash with security.

This comes just a few weeks after the university revealed it was facing a £50m shortfall, putting increased scrutiny on its financial management.

A Sheffield University and College Union (UCU) committee member told The Sheffield Tab that the spending of almost quarter of a million pounds on security “while ignoring any of the concerns that have been raised by the protesters” was “really concerning”.

They said: “I feel like it’s also a very accurate reflection of the current administration. The fact that they have prioritized suppressing dissent over addressing any legitimate concerns that are being raised regarding the restructuring, regarding the universities complicity, and the university’s own reported £50 million shortfall – this is absolutely shocking that they are choosing to do this.”

In 2023, the university spent £36,544 on security for student protest action. In 2022, it was £36,986.

Amid the current financial deficit, a voluntary severance scheme is set to be introduced for staff in some departments to make cuts worth £23m and aim to help the university regain financial surplus by 2026/27.

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In light of this, the Sheffield UCU committee member added that it made the security spending feel “particularly egregious” and that “the moral right now in the university is really low” – citing 880 staff members voting in favour of a Sheffield UCU motion of no confidence in the University Executive Board a fortnight ago.

“Now to find out that they’re actually prioritising spending money on security, over saving more of their own staff and making sure that they provide the same standards of education, learning and research to our students and staff is just shocking.”

They also urged the university to “actually engage in meaningful dialogue with our committee members, with the UCU working group on Palestine, and with pro-Palestine student protesters”.

On this point, a University of Sheffield spokesperson highlighted existing university channels to engage with staff and students, such as Ask Your University events and the elected Student’s Union officers.

They also told The Sheffield Tab: ““We fully support the right for peaceful protest within law, however, we also have a responsibility to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for our students and staff. We provided necessary security around protests to keep our university community safe and to ensure that key university activities, such as open days and graduation ceremonies for our students and their families, could continue.”

Featured image @steelcitysnaps on X

Sam Burton | News

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Revealed: University of Sheffield spends £248k on security for pro-Palestine protests

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