School Based Community Policing -- Northern Territory (From Police and the Community in the 1990s: Conference Proceedings, 1990, P 127-131, 1991, Sandra McKillop and Julia Vernon, eds. -- See NCJ-132447)

• NCJ Number: 132456
• Author(s): K G Maley
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

The School-Based Community Policing Program in Australia's Northern Territory was initiated in 1984 in a pilot school with about 1,000 students.

Abstract

The program initially met with resistance from the police force, the education system (teachers and unions) and some school councils. After myths about school-based community policing were dispelled by consultation and accurate information, the program took off. One of the first steps taken was to write a position profile for school-based community police officers. The arrangement devised between the school and the police allows a 6-month trial period for these officers. If the school does not suit the police officer or the police officer does not suit the school, the appointment is not confirmed and another applicant is recruited. All school-based community police officers are trained in classroom techniques and are comprehensively examined on relevant legislation affecting children. They are also trained in DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), and a school-based community policing manual has been developed. All police constables are under the direct guidance of a sergeant coordinator of the school-based community program. The Northern Territory Police have one sergeant coordinator and 18 constables serving 20 high schools and secondary colleges and 58 primary schools and associated preschools. Although school-based community policing in the Northern Territory has not been evaluated fully, an assessment of the DARE program has demonstrated positive results.