|
|
 |
| |
Pictured: (from left) to right PC Rod Muter (Haverstock), PC Garry Dwyer (William Ellis), PC Sharron Kenyon, Sgt Dominic Barnes, PC Craig Shenki (Hampstead), PC Chris Findley (Acland Burghley). |
Cops who keep kids safe
School officers say biggest task is keeping drug dealers away from the gates
KEEPING drug dealers away from the school gates has been the biggest problem facing Camden’s secondary schools, according to borough police officers.
In an exclusive interview with the New Journal, school police officers stationed at five of Camden’s secondary schools said dealers and thieves who prey on pupils are in their sights.
Haverstock, Parliament Hill, Acland Burghley, Hampstead and William Ellis schools all currently have their own police officer, after their controversial introduction in 2002.
PC Rod Muter, the designated policeman at Haverstock School, has 30 years experience in the force and was one of the country’s first school policemen. He said his school has had serious problems with drugs, bullying and knives, but over four years, trouble outside the school gates is now the exception to the rule.
According to PS Dominic Barnes, the school’s co-ordinator based at Hampstead police station, crime in schools can rise in a day if officers are away.
He said: “Part of the success of being a schools officer is challenging something in a small way and getting a really big result. We have to be firm with pupils and teach them how to make boundaries for themselves as well as discipline. You also have to be interested in children and their development. It takes a very particular type of person to do this job properly and we could not just put any officer into a school.”
Maria Fidelis and South Camden Community School are both waiting for full-time officers while officers at William Ellis and Parliament Hill help at Camden School for Girls and La Sainte Union when needed.
PC Chris Findley, based at Acland Burghley, said there have been robberies of pupils by non-pupils on days he has been working elsewhere.
“The fact they are waiting for pupils to leave shows that our presence is a deterrent for them breaking the law,” he said.
PC Findley has made one arrest since taking up the post in September, of a drug dealer selling cannabis to pupils, and said pupils on the student council admitted they feel safer with him on site.
PC Garry Dwyer, based at William Ellis, compared his role to working as a home beat officer in a small town where he knows everyone.
He added: “Working within the criminal justice system there is very little return for what you put in. Working with these children you get immediate return on your hard work.”
PC Sharron Kenyon, has 20 years experience as a policewoman and has been stationed at Parliament Hill School since November.
She said: “Intruders used to come into the school on a regular basis. Projectors were getting stolen all the time and staff told me that both have stopped. There is no longer drug dealing at the gate.”
PC Findley added: “A lot of what we do in the police force, you only look at things in the black and white. As schools officer you realise that there is a lot of grey area and see why young people get in trouble in the first place.” |
|
|
|
