Manchester students tear down campus fences on first day of lockdown

"They're huge metal barriers, they're connected to one another and there's literally no gaps," First-year Management student Megan told BBC News.

"There is fencing around the whole outside, we feel like it's completely unnecessary. It makes it feel like we're in a prison."

And that’s what happens when you protest #welovetoseeit #uom #fences #fallowfield pic.twitter.com/iSXh0qVnFb

— Alice S (@alxce_emily) November 5, 2020

University of Manchester  President and Vice-Chancellor Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell apologised for the "concern and distress caused" in a statement. "The fencing was intended as a response to a number of concerns received over recent weeks from staff and students on this site about safety and security; particularly about access by people who are not residents," the statement continued. "There was never any intent to prevent students from entering or exiting the site." The Vice-Chancellor confirmed that the fences were being taken down on Friday morning, and alternative measures, including security patrols, were being put in place.