19th June 2017
There is no doubt additional education of students on the negative aspects and risks of drugs is important, as are support services for those effected but if ever there was an argument for the allocation of Police Resources to schools to work to prevent the problem then this is it.
In other States Police are embedded in Secondary Schools as part of a structured Police In Schools Program but that does not seem to be a worthy allocation of resources in this State. Paradoxically in other States with structured Police In Schools Programs Crime rates are falling.
Assistant Commissioner Nugent is correct in highlighting how the drug issue in schools feeds into the ever increasing crime rate.
We cannot expect teachers to deal with the criminal aspect of the Drug problem in Schools. Not their role.
We would hope Mr Nugent uses his influence on Police Command to reverse its stubborn rejection of allocating Police to Schools and provide police to work with other professionals to deal with the problem as well as implement prevention strategies.
A properly structured Police in Schools Program, not ad hoc visits, where potential problems are dealt with throughout a child’s education has a proven track record of reducing crime that benefits the community. Children and youths can be diverted from involvement in Drugs and other anti-social behaviours (not limited to but including Domestic Violence, Bullying and Ideological Radicalisation) taking the load off the professional services including Operational Police and the Courts.
Better to prevent than wait for them to offend and then deal with the consequences as now is the strategy – our children are surely worth that much.
Ivan W Ray
Co-founder and Deputy Chair/CEO of the CAA, a former Police Inspector with 32 years of service in Metro Uniform, Traffic Metro and Highway Patrol, Crime Cars, and CIB. Former Editor of Police Life and long-serving Public Relations Officer of VicPol. Founder and Life Member of the Blue Light Disco movement, Life Member of the Blue Light Federation, and completed his Police career as an Inspector after 6 years as a Patrol Officer. He then ran his own Business for 20 years until retirement. Ivan co-founded the CAA with former Victorian Chief Commissioner Kel Glare, and built the CAA into an influential voice for Victorians.