School Watch deters crime (From Witney Gazette)

School Watch deters crime

8:39am Thursday 14th February 2008 in Witney By David Horne

SCHOOLS in West Oxfordshire are being ringed in to the crimewatch system to deter and detect crime.

A School Watch network, based on the same principles as Neighbourhood Watch, where members receive relevant information and witness appeals direct from the police, is being set up.

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 is given signs to display on their premises, to make visitors aware of the scheme.

Students will also be introduced to Shadow CS, the new website launched by Crimestoppers and aimed at 11- to 16-year-olds.

PC Collins added: "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."