“Observe and protect”

Undercover security guards are allegedly used to monitor College activism

UCL is employing undercover security guards to “observe and protect”, sources have claimed.

In addition to checking campus notice boards and social networking sites for announcements of planned meetings and student activism, UCL allegedly also employs security staff who operate “all across campus” and wear ‘normal’ clothing.

Three different members of security staff have confirmed the existence of undercover security guards. One such conversation with The Cheese Grater ended “I probably should not have told you that.”

According to sources, information gathered is then used to increase marked security at times of likely protest. The registry and Provost’s office are regularly closed off for this reason.

Mark West, UCL Estates Security Manager, strenuously denied these claims, insisting that UCL does not employ undercover security guards.

When confronted with the information that three different guards confirmed the existence of undercover security, West suggested that these guards are confused with the ‘secret shoppers’ that are used to check that marked security guards are doing their jobs.

These ‘secret shoppers’ are employed to conduct ‘penetration tests’ where they must try to ‘break in’ by entering campus without a card. According to West, the secret shoppers are used only to gauge customer service.

According to West, contract security must wear and show their security badges at all times: it would be illegal for private security guards to go undercover.

None of the security guards The Cheese Grater spoke to had met an undercover security guard, and one suggested that they work on a different team.

West told The Cheese Grater: “Security does not have a problem with their own students, as they have the right to protest and to speech.”