School Based Community Police Officer (From Crime at School: Proceedings of a Seminar Held 2-4 June 1987 in Canberra, P 139-147, 1987, Dennis Challinger, ed. - See NCJ-110911)

• NCJ Number: 110923
• Author(s): R Harvey
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-110911.

Annotation

The 13 community police officers in Northern Territory schools (Australia) have benefited the police, the school, and the community in performing appropriate security and legal duties on school premises.

Abstract

The community police officer improves the police image among students, provides valuable assistance for school personnel and students, and provides the community with a sense that students will be safe at school crossings under the supervision of the officer. Before a community police officer is installed in a school, school staff should assess and approve the need for such an officer, and the governing council, as representatives of the community must request the officer. The police fund the officer, but the officer is responsible to the school principal. The officer's duties include serving as liaison to the police force and other community agencies in matters pertaining to student safety, assisting in organizing after-school activities, investigating school crimes, supervising monitors at school crossings, and advising on parking restrictions on school grounds. Other tasks are monitoring activities of undesirables in the school area, and cooperating with truancy officers and home liaison officers. Students have responded positively to the officers, as have school staff, parents, the community, and the police. It is too early to determine whether the officers have reduced school crime.