The 16 break-ins happened across the county, including one in Runnymede where the front passenger window of a black Citroen C15 was smashed with cash and a handbag taken. The incident occurred between 5.30 and 6.30pm on 24 January 2012 on Guildford Road, Chertsey.

Detective Inspector Stewart Leahy, of Staines CID, said: “Surrey Police is taking the recent spate of thefts from vehicles very seriously and we are doing everything possible to bring the offenders to justice. However, we need the public to be our eyes and ears in the community and inform us of any suspicious activity so that we can take positive action swiftly.”

Surrey Police have advised residents to not leave on items on display when leaving vehicles unattended, including cigarettes and loose change. Car owners should also empty the glove box and leave it open to discourage opportunist thieves. At night, a car should be left in either a garage or a well-lit street.

Anyone with information on a theft from a motor vehicle should contact Surrey Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.

A number of protesters managed to gain access to a British Gas building shortly before 9am on Monday 30 January 2012. The protestors, from Heat or Eat, barricaded themselves in the offices as part of the ‘Winter Warm-Up’ weekend, action called by the campaign group Fuel Poverty Action. In total it is believed that six activists are in the building, with a small number also outside.

The group is protesting against the rising cost of fuel, especially the prices charged by the ‘big six’ energy companies. They claim that there are a significant number of deaths each year linked to fuel poverty, and that many families are faced with the choice between food and central heating.

Hannah Edler, a participant, said: “Heat or Eat is a choice no-one should have to face. The Big Six energy companies are raking in record profits while our bills rise, and thousands die unable to heat their homes. We’re here to put ourselves in the way of this shameless profiteering.”

Heat or Eat plan to stream live video of the occupation on the internet, including a live comedy quiz which viewers can participate in via Twitter. In response to the occupation, a British Gas spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact that higher energy prices are having on household budgets. That’s why British Gas has announced a series of measures to help customers through the winter, including a cut in electricity prices, a hold on prices overall, free insulation and help for eligible customers to claim the Warm Homes Discount.”

Surrey Police commented on the matter, saying that they “are working closely with British Gas to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible”.

Mari Burton

Doug German

Ruth Nicholson

Vice President (Education and Welfare)

Katie Blow

Kenny Aruwa

Carl Welch

Vice President (Communications and Campaigns)

Jamie Green

Louie Woodall

Vice President (Student Activities)

Lydia Heywood

Ed Resek

Ian Stewart

Trustee:

Daniel Brewer

George Papamargaritis

Oli Rushby

The store was cordoned off throughout the day as detectives and forensic teams worked to collect evidence. Detective Constable Brett Harris of Staines CID has told The Orbital that CCTV footage is still being reviewed, but that they ask anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The suspects have been described as all men, wearing dark clothing, with their faces covered. A member of the group was riding a bicycle at the time of the robbery, however the group made off on foot towards Staines Bridge following the crime.

DC Harris states that “this is a serious offence which affects the town centre community in Staines and we are doing everything possible to identify those responsible.”

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference SL/12/510, or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Witnesses reported seeing armed police preventing civilians from entering a section of the street, in what was described by Surrey Police as a ‘proactive firearms operation’.

Police arrested three men at the scene, one from Egham and two from London, who were taken into police custody. It is not clear why police initially raided the vehicle, but in a statement a Surrey Police spokesperson said that no firearm was found and all three men have been released with no action taken.

Locals reported seeing several armed officers preventing locals from entering the area, which is now open for public access again.

Officers carried out several arrests at the scene, with many remaining in custody while enquiries continue. Surrey Police are unable to comment further on the matter at this time.

Zara has been described by the College as “a bright and well-liked student” who will be “deeply missed”. Sympathies and condolences are offered to friends and family, and the Support and Advisory Service is available to offer any support needed to students at this difficult time.

The Drama and Theatre Studies Department intends to commemorate Zara’s life appropriately in due course. The Orbital will be keeping readers updated as further details emerge.

Support and Advisory Services:
Helen/Sarah – 01784 443394/443394
SupportAndAdvisory@rhul.ac.uk

This is the second of two part time job fairs run by Royal Holloway Careers Service each academic year, with attendances at both having been exceptionally high.  19 different companies offered opportunities in retail, education, hospitality, and even gap year opportunities and projects over the summer.

Rose Hackett, Head of Operations and Employer Engagement at the Careers Service, said “We were really pleased with the number of students, the quality of students enquires and the growing relationship the university has with a wide variety of part time employers.”

If you missed the events, the Careers Service can still help you find a part time job.  Vacancies from local employers are advertised on the Careers Facebook Page, Twitter feed and also on the website at www.rhul.ac.uk/careers.  Alternatively, call into the Careers Service in the Horton Building between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday to find out more about the employers and vacancies advertised at the fair and how to find yourself a part time job.

The formal announcement at the General Meeting was followed by a brief question and answer session on the floor of the SU, during which the details behind the shock resignation came to light. Part of the explanation appears to lie in the debate surrounding the decision to have the station broadcast on an FM frequency this year. In December, the Production Board announced that it would be broadcasting under “a new community FM license” which would allow “more opportunities for the local community to get involved” and dramatically improve the sound quality of Insanity’s broadcasts.

However, it was revealed at the GM that the Production Board had decided at a meeting on Monday night to reverse this decision. Singh cited tensions between the Production Board and College and the Students’ Union as one motive behind the veto, claiming that difficulties liaising with the two made any switchover unsustainable. Explaining how OFCOM, the government’s media regulator, has greatly increased the number of restrictions binding Community FM stations, Singh argued that the switchover exposed Insanity and the SU to massive potential fines if any conditions were breached. Without the cooperation of College and the SU, she explained that the Production Board feared going ahead with the switchover on their own.

Sarah Honeycombe, Vice President of Communications and Campaigns, former Assistant Station Manager, and current member of the Production Board at Insanity, responded to a question on whether the Students’ Union should “give up” in the matter of the FM switchover by stating that: “Discussions are ongoing, and while I respect what they [Singh and Lamb] have said today…nobody has given up yet. And for what it’s worth, I’m not going to.”

Honeycombe is known to personally covet the broadcasting of Insanity on FM, which suggests friction between the Vice-President and the Insanity Production Board. However, a full disclosure on the Board’s decision to veto the switchover has yet to occur, and neither Singh nor Honeycombe wished to comment on the matter when asked by ‘The Orbital.’ New Station Manager, David Lamb, wrote on the station’s Facebook page that “discussions are still ongoing” and that there will be “some news soon.”

The current studio that stands at Sutherland House is a dated 1970s design that is in a state of disrepair. Despite it desperately under-serving the Drama and Theatre Department, RHUL remains one the leading competitors in its field. Now, with the promise of a new theatre space, there seems to be only one way for the department to go: up.

Facilities are currently in disrepair. Image: RHUL Press Office.

Professor Dan Rebellato, Head of Drama and Theatre, had this to say: “The Department of Drama and Theatre has had the same studio theatre for thirty years, a building that was put up in the early 1980s as a temporary structure, but has been patched up ever since. We are delighted that Runnymede Council saw the merit of our new building proposal. It’s a very striking, but elegantly integrated building, designed by renowned theatre architects Foster-Wilson, and will help us maintain our leading position in the Theatre Studies [field], as well as extending the opportunities available for our students to make excellent, challenging work”.

However, a committee of Middle Hill residents have expressed their doubts and worries about light, oversight, noise and the landscape of the trees. The representative of the committee, Mr Rob Warman, has stated that the scenic beauty of the area as one of the main reasons he moved to the area.

In an effort to satisfy objections raised against the new build, the university has “substantially adjusted” plans in order to appease locals. RHUL has confirmed that a conservation company has been consulted to limit the number of trees initially taken down for the project and then to replant any as to ensure that the scenic beauty of the area is not tarnished.

Regarding further worries of locals, Prof. Rebellato went on to comment that they have, “moved windows, and [...] the new building will be unobtrusive and certainly very much quieter than the old one”.

Works are planned to begin in the coming weeks, however the university could not give a set date whilst contracts are being finalised. RHUL has stated that the new build will house a larger, more versatile back stage area offering “a workshop, design space, accessible dressing rooms and two new rehearsal rooms”, which together greatly enhance the working and teaching spaces available to the department.  The development will also include repairs and refurbishment to the Grade II listed Sutherland House.

Prof. Rebellato hopes that “new building will allow the university and local residents access to some of the tremendously exciting work that our students make”. And, so do we.