15/11/2005

North down police launch safer schools programme

Police in North Down today launched a new scheme aimed at working to build positive relationships between young people and the police in the area.

Following consultation between police in North Down and all of the Secondary and Grammar schools in the North Down area, a pilot programme has been developed which will primarily focus on working to ensure that pupils build a positive association with police. Through the scheme, a police officer will be based at each school for an agreed period.

Superintendent Graham Shields, North Down District Commander said he was delighted at the support shown by the schools for this project.

"A police officer will be identified and based at each of the participating schools for a period of three weeks," Superintendent Shields. "We anticipate that during this time, the police officer will be allocated as a dedicated resource. In the longer term the police officer will provide a link between the Police Service and the schools by way of a regular proactive and managed contact. We believe this approach will have a positive impact on policing and youth related issues."

As well as surgeries being made available for young people who wish to talk in confidence to the police officers, each school will also have the opportunity to utilise the police officers in providing instruction and guidance to teachers on various issues involving young people such as recognising drug/alcohol abuse and bullying.

The initiative will be piloted over the next three months at six local schools.

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
21 April 2016
Officer Disciplined For Failing To Properly Investigate Assault On Boy
A police officer has been disciplined after failing to properly investigate an allegation that a man annoyed by children playing football near his car, attacked a 12-year-old boy by kicking him on the hand.
06 August 2014
Police Vehicle Contracts Arrest - Man Released
A 54-year-old member of police staff who was arrested in County Antrim as part of ongoing investigations into the awarding of vehicle contracts has been released. The man was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has been taken to a police station in Belfast for questioning.
28 March 2007
House of Lords vote for ‘50/50’ police force
The House of Lords has renewed the 50/50 recruitment rule for the PSNI by a majority of 44. It puts into practice a recommendation made in 1999 by Lord Patten that the local police force should be split evenly between Catholics and Protestants. The result of the vote was 141 to 97.
27 May 2016
Number Of NI Primary Schools Receive Further 'Malicious Calls'
A number of primary schools in Northern Ireland have received further "malicious calls". Pupils and staff at Kilmaine Primary school in Bangor, Co Down, were evacuated and other schools have also been affected.