Students first complained three years ago about lecturer who used paedophile site

Stephen Birkett was only moved away from ‘student-facing roles’ at the start of this term


Back in 2019, an executive member of a society made a complaint about Lancaster lecturer Stephen Birkett, on the grounds that he had posted photographs of children on a Russian website known to be used by paedophiles.

A couple of weeks ago, the same concerns surrounding Birkett resurfaced, leading Lancaster University to move him away from “student-facing roles.”

While Birkett has not responded to our requests for comment, a spokesperson for Lancaster University said the uni remains “satisfied that there are no safeguarding concerns” regarding the lecturer.

The student who originally made the complaint about Birkett was an executive member of a society which Birkett was also involved in. The student has requested to remain anonymous and will be referred to as Brandon* from here on.

According to Brandon, Birkett had been an active member of the club since he began his PhD in 2018.

Brandon believed him to be a “friendly face” and said he “never behaved inappropriately”.

Birkett also participated in the society’s drinking socials, alongside first years and other society members.

But one day back in 2019, one of the other executive members of the society googled Birkett’s name and found a publicly available teacher misconduct panel outcome that revealed he’d been posting images of children on a Russian website frequented by paedophiles.

Upon discovering this information, a few other executive members approached Lancaster University Students’ Union (LUSU) to ask for advice in dealing with such a sensitive issue.

Brandon says that LUSU responded by categorically stating that they were not to speak to Birkett about the issue at all.

When other members of the club found out about Birkett’s past, they threatened to leave the society. They attended a meeting with LUSU, after which Brandon claims many students “left in tears”.

Brandon told The Lancaster Tab that after Birkett was reported to LUSU, the society was told they could not remove the lecturer as this would constitute “victimisation” and “harassment”.

Against LUSU’s wishes, the club unilaterally decided to revoke Birkett’s membership and informed him that he was no longer welcome at club meetings.

Many students remained concerned that they were pictured next to him at various events and fundraisers, which they felt could be misconstrued as an endorsement of his actions.

Brandon also believed Birkett’s teaching role as an Assistant Lecturer in the History Department was “of grave concern”. That’s why he wrote a formal complaint to the university in January of 2020.

The complaint focused on Birkett’s dealing with first-year undergraduate students, “some of whom may be just 17 years old”.

Brandon argued that many students “may have had childhood experiences which mean they do not feel safe in his company” therefore being taught by Birkett may have “serious” effects on their welfare.

The formal complaint made by Brandon to the university in 2020

An additional concern was also raised regarding Birkett’s potential employment as part of the university’s outreach programme as he may have been in contact with schoolchildren when giving tours to prospective students. Brandon said: “This is obviously a major safeguarding issue if true.”

Brandon also claimed that the SU had encouraged the club members to “contain” the issue rather than address it directly.

A later section of Brandon’s 2020 formal complaint to the university

Ultimately, this complaint resulted in a formal meeting with the university’s Head of the History Department and the Interim Head of Student Services at the time.

In this meeting, the university representatives confirmed that Birkett was in an outreach role and gave university tours to prospective students. Members of university management confirmed that Birkett did not come into contact with school-aged children on campus tours.

During the meeting, university representatives also revealed that Birkett was not likely to have been DBS checked when he was hired.

University representatives said they do not run routine DBS checks on staff unless they routinely have one-to-one contact with children or vulnerable adults. DBS checks are required for counsellors, chaplains, and “probably outreach”.

A prohibition order imposed on Birkett prevented him teaching in any school or sixth form college but not at a university.

According to Brandon, both the history department and student welfare concluded that they were clear that they “could do nothing and shouldn’t do anything” about Birkett’s teaching position.

Upon learning that the society had revoked Birkett’s membership against their permission, Lancaster University representatives accused them of bullying Birkett by ostracising him.

Although Brandon intended to pursue the complaint further, he later decided against this course of action “due to the stressfulness of the situation” and a “lack of faith in the process”.

Birkett remained in his former role until just a few weeks ago when a Tab investigation revealed he was still teaching undergraduate students at the start of term. Birkett has since been moved to a non-student facing role.

A Lancaster University spokesperson said: “Steven Birkett is still employed with Lancaster University and has moved to a non-student facing administrative role.

“His previous appointment as a GTA was fully investigated in consultation with the Department for Education and General Teaching Council, and we were and remain satisfied that there are no safeguarding concerns with him teaching undergraduate students.”

Lancaster University Students’ Union was approached for comment but did not respond.

Steven Birkett was approached for comment but did not respond.

*Name changed to protect student’s identity 

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