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Policeman in every school: borough gets tough on youth crime
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent24.09.08
A London borough is to station a police officer in every secondary school.
Ealing says the plan will improve relations between the police and pupils while tackling any incidents that occur.
Community support officers will also be sent into primary schools to work with children from the age of five.
The £525,000, two-year scheme follows a call by ministers for more officers to be sent into schools across England to tackle knife crime. Already this year 26 teenagers have been killed in violent incidents in the capital.
Superintendent Ian Jenkins of Ealing police said he wanted officers to have a permanent place in schools.
He stressed that the move was not a response to any particular problems in the borough.
Authority over typical school discipline issues, such as squabbles between pupils, would remain with headteachers, he said. But "if a student is coming to their school with a knife in their possession then we need to treat that as a serious matter. It may well be that the person will be arrested, more often than not.
"All the headteachers are hugely supportive about stopping knives going into schools."
The initiative is aimed mainly at improving relations between the police and the community. "Throughout the school day the officer will spend the majority of their time there and when school finishes the officer will be there as well," said Mr Jenkins.
"The children don't see the officer in a confrontational role."
More than 400 schools work with police officers across England in the Safer School Partnerships programme.
Previously, six officers had links to 14 secondary schools in Ealing but now each school will have its own dedicated constable, apart from two, which are sharing one Pc.
Mr Jenkins said community support officers would visit primaries in the area so children could learn about the role of police from an early age. Officers will also help identify any children at risk of turning to anti-social behaviour.
In July, London schools minister Lord Adonis said he wanted to see more police based in comprehensives to help search pupils for knives. "Nothing is more imperative than that we keep weapons out of schools," he said.
The Government stresses that discipline is improving and knife incidents in educational establishments are rare.
Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb said: "It's very sad that this local authority feels the need to have police permanently based in schools, but it reflects parents' concerns about the extent to which discipline has deteriorated.
"A safe and ordered classroom environment is crucial if children are to be able to learn.
"We need to give teachers more powers to restore order to the classroom so they can deal with discipline problems before they spiral out of control."
Laying down the law at lunchbreak
PC DAVE PREECE has become wellknown at Greenford High School in Southall.
He regularly helps staff on lunch break duty in the canteen, tracks down pupils who fail to turn up and deals with the occasional incident.
Teachers are so pleased with the arrangement that he has become a daily presence as part of Ealing's expansion of police working in the borough's schools.
Greenford High's deputy head Colin Horsley said: "We are very happy with the service. He might be in the canteen or around the school - he is generally a positive presence, not a heavy-handed policing presence, and he has a good relationship with the students."
Reader views (16)
The lack of a local police officer & the relationship that is built up with the local population makes the police unknown if not unwelcome when they respond. People don't know them, they don't know the people & both sides see each other as being "the other side" & treat each other with doubt if not suspicion. You have to know the other person as a person in order to trust them & work together. Police who are just images in a car or standing on the other side of a yellow tape with "their kind" do not encourage public support. Nor can the police use their contacts within the populace as they have few if any because they are so rarely in contact except at times of stress. HArdly the best time to build a working relationship. COMMUNITY POLICING with police officers on the street, accessible to the public, preferably living in the neighbourhood evan if only in a police house would foster the development of a working relationship between police & public.
- Rav, Lethbridge Canada
In Vancouver every school has an assigned Police Officer. The children have their contact details and can get hold of them in an emergency or chat to them on regular school visits. I don't think that it is really necessary to to have a full time police presence at all schools.
- Coylum, Vancouver, Canada
I grew up in Tottenham in the 80's. As we know Tottenham has always been a rough area but I can remember our local bobby on our estate who used to patrol regularly and if anyone had any problems we went to him. He knew all the kids and who the trouble makers were. Some where along the line this presence dissapeared (probably the 1990s) and the only time you saw police was when they were driving past in their patrol cars.
- Karen Reilly, London
I suppose most of you want a policeman in every home as well. Perhaps the Sheople will not be content until every aspect of their lives is governed and controlled down to the last detail, and every human thought is monitored. I can't think of anything more depressing than having police everywhere.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .
How about getting some them out of their offices and cars and on to the streets, and a few more on to the pavements to prevent the cyclist thugs from intimidating pedestrians?
- Lezli Taubler, London/UK
I think this is a wonderful idea, and something that should be done here. There are so many opportunities for the police to work more closely with the children, and this can only be a benefit. Well done a brilliant idea. I am happy for my taxes to be used constructively in this way.
- Alex, Gloucester
I think this is a wonderful idea. I'm sure most of you would be quite happy to complain about young persons hanging round on street corners and being intimidating. Trying to fix this problem at the source is a great idea. "I'm sure police officers don't join the force to become babysitters, what an insult." Triffidqueen im sure you would be the first person to g running to the Police if you saw a youth standing outside your house, but when the police try to do something about it it becomes a waste of your money. What a joke. Full credit to Mr Jenkins its a great idea.
- Alex Mcneil, Uxbridge, West London
Nice to see my tax is being used so wisely, Not!
Why should police officers be used as a free security guard. I'm sure police officers don't join the force to become babysitters, what an insult. No wonder kids have become feral animals as the government has made it clear they cannot be smacked etc...
Bring back the cane!
- Triffidqueen, London, UK.
An admission that teachers have lost control in the state schools. No wonder private schools are so popular.
- Tom, Watford UK
Next up: a policeman in every home. I'm disappointed that so many people are welcoming the creation of a police state.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .
I guess that it is a start. Maybe if this initiative is successful it will be expanded to include the high streets too.
- Casper Slides, Ibiza, Spain
So we now know why there are no Police on the streets. They have all gone back to school!
- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have
Fantastic idea! Absolutely! - Ummmmmm, where they gonna come from? Isn't there a shortage of proper Plods in the first place? Isn't that why the government are sanctioning the use of rent-a-cops & PCSO policeman wannabes?
Sounds a whole lot like someone is making cosmetic noises that people want to hear without the wherewithal to make it happen - like a few national politicians that come to mind (ok - quite a few politicians, of all hues).
- Rogan, DFW TX
Simple. Cannot the parents of these kids tell them that carrying knives into school is a bad thing, or is that too much to ask. Mine dont. Gosh wish I was a politician.
- Robert Sylvester, Fulham, LONDON, UK
Just one?
He/she will need to be in full riot gear, stab proofed 100% and fearless to come to any of the schools in Croydon.
- Jackie, surrey, Coulsdon nr, Croydon ~(unfortunately)
Brilliant idea and long overdue. Other boroughs should follow suit ASAP as most gang activity starts in high school.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
