Hackney’s Safer Schools Partnership

Nicola Baboneau,

Community & Partnerships, The Learning Trust

Government context

 Safer School Partnerships (SSPs) were launched in 2002 as part of the package of measures introduced by the Prime Minister’s Street Crime Action Group to combat street robberies and related crime in high crime areas

2002 – Support from the top!‘This is another new, powerful initiative. Like The Learning Trust, this is a new approach to raise the standards our children achieve by supporting them to develop their full potential. The police service has a central role in the development of confident and strong communities. We support and welcome their involvement.’ Alan Wood, CE The Learning Trust

Partnership in actionWhere SSPs are most effective, as in Hackney, they are seen as an integral part of local neighbourhood policing and not merely as a police officer attached to a school

Hackney’s SSP model

• Comprises a sergeant, six police officers, schools and a designated Learning Trust lead

• The team of officers based in secondary schools also support pupil referral units

• The remit of two officers includes primary schools

Why police in schools?• A safe school environment promotes respect,

responsibility and good behaviour and enhances the prospects of increased educational achievement

• The Safer School Partnership provides a way forward for schools, working together with the police and others, to deliver these outcomes for children, young people and their communities

Hackney’s Children & Young People’s Plan

• The work of the Safer School Partnership aligns closely to the commitments the Government has made through Every Child Matters, especially in working towards outcomes of Staying Safe and Making a Positive Contribution

• The focus of the Safer School Partnership is early intervention and prevention

Positive engagement• The scheme encourages the police, children and

young people to build good relationships, trust and mutual respect

• Safer Schools officers continue their operational policing approach, but do so in a way that fulfils a prevention and deterrence role, and supports victims of crime

`I’ve recently started on Safer Schools. It’s a fantastic experience working with young people seeing a very different side of them. Building up trust in students is making a real difference to how they view police’

PC Jean Costello

SSP and support for schools • Providing a visible presence in and around schools and

the local community• Providing a point of contact for pupils who need help and

support from the police• Helping combat truancy and supporting truancy patrols

with the Education Attendance Service• Investigating incidents of crime, reducing crime and fear

of crime in the area of the schools• Reducing bullying, street crime and victimisation of

young people

• Raising awareness of the police and the law for young people

• Initiating and supporting diversionary schemes• Providing restorative justice interventions where appropriate • Promoting effective information sharing relating to young

offenders and those most at risk of offending with a view to accessing earlier intervention and support

• Providing support to deliver a programme explaining the Criminal Justice System in relation to controlled drugs

Addressing Hackney’s priorities• Effective engagement is linked with action,

increasingly ensuring young people are part of solving problems

• Resources are focused on activities related to performance targets within the policing plan, in particular reducing serious violence and protecting young people