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Students claimed that they have received both verbal and physical aggression from Union security which was inappropriate for the situation, with 17 per cent saying they had been the target of unjustified verbal aggression and 13 per cent saying they had received unjustified physical aggression from security staff.

Only one per cent of respondents said they believed the physical aggression they received was reasonable considering their own behaviour, with eight per cent stating they believed the verbal aggression they received was appropriate.

One respondent said the emergency services were called after he was ejected from the Union.

Eyewitnesses claimed he was left unconscious. He was taken to the Royal Northern General Hospital with injuries to his head and right hip.

After the incident a Union spokesman said: “Police investigated on the night and decided not to pursue the matter further.

“Despite the incident occurring several weeks ago the student has not registered a complaint. If he does we would investigate fully.”

Several students stated they believe security staff are too forceful in the way they remove students from the Union building.

A masters student, who wished to remain nameless, said: “During Pop Tarts I approached a member of the security staff to ask why a female friend of mine had been ejected from the premises.  

“Our brief exchange was abruptly ended when the member of staff and at least one other grabbed me and bent me over forwards in a two-arm lock, completely without physical provocation from me and without giving any verbal warning or asking me to leave the premises.

“This left me with bruising to the arms and neck.”

Head of Union security Martin Wick insisted his staff make the Union a safe place.

He said: “Part of the security job is to respond to disputes between over-exuberant customers in our various venues.

“This intervention in the vast majority of cases will calm and diffuse the situations and often is not even noticed by others not directly involved, allowing everyone to carry on enjoying themselves in our very safe environment.

“However, sometimes as a last resort, as required by the law to prevent disorder, we do regrettably have to remove a very small minority of customers and unsurprisingly some of these will not be happy.

“All our security staff are licensed and trained to the Security Industry Authority national standard and then get additional enhanced training on top of this.

“We look at all feedback and in this case the Forge Press survey, to see if we can learn anything and improve the service we provide.”

Union Welfare Officer Jennifer Hastings said complaints are taken seriously and any students who felt they had received unjustified aggression should make a complaint in writing to the Union’s general manager.

Despite some fears of aggression, 92 per cent of those polled felt safe in the Union.

This poll is not intended to be a scientific survey but an indication of student opinion.