The eyes have it

A new poster campaign which features a pair of watchful eyes is aiming to help keep cycles safe on the University campus.

Watching_Eyes

The posters, strategically placed on or nearby cycle racks, are based on research which shows that images of staring eyes have a statistically significant effect in deterring cycle crime.  The initiative is part of a wider campaign to improve cycle security at the University, which has been put in place by Andy Gordon-Platt (the University’s Crime Prevention Advisor) and PC Matt Guy (Higher Education Liaison Officer).

The idea for the posters follows a two-year experiment on the University of Newcastle campus, during which the posters featuring watching eyes and a short anti-theft message were deployed with the result that thefts from bike racks dropped by 62%.

The University’s Head of Security Services Alan Cain, said: “The results of the trial speak for themselves. We’re always keen to further improve cycle security on campus, and I’m really looking forward to seeing if these posters have a significant impact.”

Posted in: