Security & Community Safety department restructuring proposal prompts Unite concerns

The Security and Community Safety (SCS) department, which supports students and staff across Imperial’s campuses, is currently consulting on a restructuring proposal led by the College’s Property Division.

The initial proposal describes a department-wide restructuring, with more in-house Security Officers, Campus Security Managers and Control Room Operators than under the current staffing structure. The Control Room team would operate in-house 24/7 and work in a larger space. The total number of staff, under the proposed arrangement, is not expected to decrease. 

The project is expected to save an estimated £600,000.

The College says the proposal responds to an increasingly complex security environment and aims to increase its security capabilities, including requirements under Martyn’s Law, a piece of legislation to strengthen security and preparedness across UK venues expected to come into force in Spring 2027. 

Felix was copied to an open letter 3 August from the SCS department to Property Division leadership, calling for “the Executive Team to pause, listen and place people at the centre of this process before irreversible decisions are made”. Consultation processes began 6 August.

Under the proposed changes, existing Security officers will be regraded, with changes to remove their night shifts and associated allowances – a change staff say amounts to a pay cut for those affected. Control Room Operators would continue to work around the clock.

A Unite spokesperson raised concerns about redundancies under the proposed structure. Existing staff would be interviewed for roles before positions are advertised externally, raising worry at Unite of a decrease in experienced in-house staff. The Unite spokesperson argues that in-house Security staff with months or years of experience possess institutional knowledge, established relationships, and technical skills that are essential to ensure a safe student experience. 

Felix has been provided with anonymised accounts of emergency incidents in which staff familiarity with students, existing relationships between colleagues and enhanced emergency-response training played an important role in resolving incidents.

The proposed structure, according to the College, would strengthen its security capabilities, and staff would continue to receive support for professional development. 

Six training days are currently provided per year, which the proposal does not suggest reducing. The College also says staff employed directly or through approved contractors would receive inductions and training to familiarise themselves with the campus.

Unite has launched an open letter calling on the Provost to reconsider the proposals, currently signed by more than 1,500 students and staff members. 

In June, an Accelerated Turnover Payment (ATP) scheme was offered to Security officers to voluntarily leave the university, with multiple workers confirmed to have taken the opportunity. The College confirms this scheme is independent from the current restructuring project. 

The consultation is due to conclude on 5 October, followed by four weeks to review feedback and counterproposals. The final structure is aimed for publishing early November, with implementation scheduled to begin in February 2027. 

The College confirms staff and Union representatives are being engaged throughout the process.