BEXLEY College has appealed to the police for support in trying to control trouble on its St Joseph's campus.

The campus, in Woolwich Road, Belvedere, has now been turned into a sixth form college, with students aged 16 to 19 taking GCSEs, A levels and similar exams.

But the college has revealed there has already been an assault on the campus where police had to be called, and a sex assault on the adjacent Bostall Heath involving a student from the campus.

At last week's police/community consultative group, the college's representative appealed to borough police commander Chief Superintendent Chris Cerroni for help.

He said the college was worried the public would lose confidence in the college's ability to provide a safe environment for its students.

He said if the situation was not sorted out, the borough could suffer the loss of the college.

A meeting between the college and the police to discuss the situation, is due to take place on Friday (December 7).

A spokesman for the college admitted the campus had received a number of complaints, both from people living near the campus and from shopkeepers further away, about the behaviour of students from the St Joseph's campus.

He said: "Every year we have some incidents on campus. But this year we have had more than in previous years."

College authorities blame the increase on the concentration of 16 to 19-year-old students on one campus.

"We have done a lot to help ourselves but we now think input from the police would be helpful. We want to be responsible and work with the police to improve the image of the college."

He suggested the police might be prepared to consider a visible presence on the campus occasionally, with a visit from an officer.

Bexleyheath police confirmed they dealt with a fight involving two students on the campus site on November 6 and that a youth had been dealt with by police following an indecent assault on nearby Bostall Heath on November 11.

December 5, 2001 9:44

Linda Piper