University of Canterbury's Muslim students get safety tips in workshop with police

The students set up a workshop in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack.

At the request of Muslim students at the University of Canterbury, they've met with local police for an informal safety workshop following the March 15 terrorist attack.

The University of Canterbury's Muslim Students Association (UCMSA) has over 200 members, many of whom are international students living away from their families.

UCMSA president Bariz Shah says it's important they're able to meet in person with local police to address their concerns.

"I'd be lying if everybody said they felt safe," he said.

The informal workshop was run by Constable Shonosuke Deguchi, who works in the Canterbury Police ethnic services team.

He encouraged the students who turned up at the workshop to report hate crime.

"We encourage people to report any hate crime, whether it's racial, religious, anything - police will take it seriously," he said.

Both the UCMSA and police agree these workshops need to continue for some time to come.

"We see it as really important 'cause unfortunately, nothing of that magnitude has been prepared for in New Zealand and we will like a heads up if anything of that nature was to happen again," Mr Shah said.

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