Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

POLICE IN SCHOOLS II

In August of this year I wrote an article criticising the idea of police officers being placed in Plymstock’s two secondary schools. I have now had the chance to visit one of the schemes and seen for myself what is intended. And I have something to say: I was wrong.

I completely misunderstood the true purpose of these proposals and it was a timely reminder to me to check facts before shouting off. Sorry everyone! The plan is not to help keep discipline in those two fine schools, but rather to help tackle some of the issues that challenge the coming generation and our society generally: issues of respect, citizenship, anti-social behaviour, truancy and responsibility. The two community constables who have been selected to work within the schools are experienced officers who both have real presence. They are there to build relationships of respect with the pupils, act as role models, engage them about the consequences of irresponsible behaviour outside the school gates and much more.

As we all know, most of the ASB in Plympton is youth related. We have waded knee deep in government initiatives to bear down on this in the last few years but it keeps getting worse. A new approach is needed. The Plymstock police initiative is an attempt to model a new way forward.

It is early days, but already there have been benefits. The pupils told me that they are more likely to respect constables with whom they have forged a relationship – they are less likely to want to let that person down by their behaviour. I was impressed with that. For that inevitable minority of hardcore troublemakers (as in any generation), this scheme gives our law enforcers the inside track. Knowledge is power.

There is a softer side to this too. Some girl pupils confided that they had been able to share some worrying concerns about their own neighbourhood with the man in blue, and that he sorted it out.

We have a growing problem with anti-social behaviour in modern society, caused by all kinds of things: the collapse of family structures of support and discipline in many cases and the rapid advance of an “anything goes” culture. The next generation faces levels of complexity and challenges that we have never seen before.
This innovative scheme in Plymstock is well worth a punt. I wish it every success in making our communities stronger safer places.

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 28, 2005