Campus Police Officers
Owner / Author:
Strathclyde Police
Organisation:
Police
Contact Details:
For further information contact Inspector Tom Halbert, Violence Reduction Unit.
Tel 0141 532 5873/5847.
Strategy / Initiative Name:
Campus Police Officers
Local Authority(ies):
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
North Ayrshire
Glasgow City
North Ayrshire
Group Targeted:
The increasing violence and anti-social behaviour in and around the school campus.
Crime Type / Violence Activity:
Anti-social Behaviour
Assault
Weapon Related Crime
Assault
Weapon Related Crime
Level(s):
Primary
Aims:
The agencies agreed the following objectives:
- Reduce instances of violent crime in and around the school campus.
- Reduce incidents of disorder, vandalism and litter in the surrounding area.
- Reduce the number of assaults, acts of vandalism and disorder on public service vehicles and school buses.
- Build a better relationship between the Learning Community pupils, the general public, local business and the Police.
- Develop effective working partnerships between police and other agencies.
- Develop young peoples awareness of 'Good Citizenship' and assist divert students from crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour.
Approach:
A joint approach was taken between Strathclyde Police and Local Authority Education Departments.
Project's Methodology:
During the winter school term of 2000 ' 2001 a Secondary school (Eastbank Academy, Academy Street, Glasgow) and its student population came to the notice of the local police in relation to violence and anti-social behaviour in and around the school campus. Increasingly complaints were received from local residents and businesses.
Equally there was increasing evidence of assaults and anti-social behaviour on both public service vehicles and dedicated school buses. Much vandalism was also being caused to service vehicles, perpetrated by young people throwing missiles at them as they progressed along their routes. The level of missile throwing was escalating and it had reached the stage where passengers were either being struck or narrowly missed by the missiles or glass fragments.
Policing options were considered and discussions took place between the Senior Management of the school and Police Sub-division. Areas discussed included:
- The perceived increase in violent incidents, some of which involved the use of weapons such as batons, bottles, baseball bats etc.
- Disturbances, vandalism and litter in and around the cartilage of the school.
- Assaults, vandalism and disorder on public service vehicles and school buses.
- Disharmony between the school, local residents and businesses caused by student behaviour at specific times.
It was agreed to deploy a dedicated officer to the school for a trial period and the officer started on 3 April 2001. The officer operates within the Eastbank Learning Community and provides a service to one secondary and six primary schools.
Other Agencies Involved:
Local Authority Education Departments.
Evaluation Process:
Reductions in the following were agreed as performance indicators:
- Complaints regarding the disorder by students.
- Reported instances of vandalism in and around the school.
- Complaints regarding litter.
- Reported acts of vandalism in and around the school.
- Reported disorder and vandalism on public service vehicles and school buses.
Evaluation Impact:
The role of campus officer has now undergone scrutinised evaluation both in Strathclyde Police and Grampian Police Forces (these can be made available). The views of Head Teachers, teachers, pupils and parents has been positive and the role of the Campus Officer has been validated as a sound and effective community policing model. It has been developed into other schools and there are currently nine Campus Officers in Strathclyde. In addition, other external research has been carried out in both Police Force areas.
Evaluation Result:
Effective
Criticism:
None.
Potential:
To have any long-term sustainable reduction in violence we must be able to bring about societal and attitudinal change. Education and, in particular, early years education is critical to this process and the introduction of Campus Officers into schools is helping to bring about some quick notable differences in pupil's behaviour.
