School Watch launched in county (From Witney Gazette)

School Watch launched in county

1:31pm Monday 4th February 2008 in Witney

SCHOOLS in West Oxfordshire are joining a School Watch network run by Thames Valley Police.

School Watch is based on similar principles to Neighbourhood Watch where members receive relevant information and witness appeals direct from the police.

The scheme has three main aims:

• To give early warning of any suspicious activity around a school, whether this is a threat to the premises or the students and staff themselves
• To protect the students on their way to and from school
• To establish a two-way communication process. Staff, parents and students are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or crimes.

PC Simon Collins, West Oxfordshire's Schools Officer, said: "I hope that School Watch will prove to be as successful as Neighbourhood Watch is. In one night last month we had four of our schools broken into. "Schools are important focal points in local communities and we hope that by working together we can ensure that staff, students and premises are safe and crime-free."

Each school will be given signs to display on their premises to make visitors aware of the scheme.

PC Collins will also be introducing students to Shadow CS, the new website launched by Crimestoppers and aimed at 11 to 16-year-olds.

The website allows young people to discuss everything related to crime and features topical news debates, games and competitions. The Ask Shady' section offers advice anonymously.

"More than 1,500 people have been arrested and charged in the Thames Valley as a result of information given to Crimestoppers over the past eight years," said PC Collins.

"It is important that our young people are aware of this charity and the fact that they can give information completely anonymously if they feel they can't speak to a teacher, parent or youth worker."