NEW POLICE PROTOCOLS FOR SCHOOLS

3.00.35pm GMT Mon 6th Nov 2006

Schools should remain vigilant at all times

At last Thursday's County Council meeting, Cllr Geoff Rowe, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Malling Rural North East, asked the Cabinet Member for Education and School Improvement if he was confident that the new Kent Police protocols, issued to schools after the recent incident at St.Stephen`s Junior School in Canterbury, were robust enough to prevent any further incidents of Kent Police failing to respond to reports from schools of intruders, and asked if any other incidents had been reported.

Cllr Rowe was informed that, after the personal involvement of the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable, the Cabinet Member was confident that robust protocols were now in place which should deal with potential serious incidents on school sites. Since the issuing of the protocols to schools a number of previous incidents, where police response had not been as swift as should have been expected, had been reported.

Cllr Rowe said: "Schools should remain vigilant at all times and MUST contact the police for positive immediate action if intruders enter the school site. The new robust protocols, and development of neighbourhood policing, should now provide added reassurance to schools and lead to more effective response times."

Both the question and answer are posted in full on the County Council Questions webpage of this website.

NB: Geoff Rowe as well as County Councillor for Malling Rural North East, represents the Lib Dem Group on the Kent Police Authority