As reported by the BBC, police chiefs have defended a 43% year-on-year rise in the number of officers based in UK schools
The Runnymede Trust race equality think tank found 979 safer schools officers (SSOs) in schools last spring, compared with 683 in 2021. It found SSOs are more likely to be based in schools with higher numbers of children on free school meals, often with higher numbers of black pupils, but the national police chiefs’ council says SSOs play an essential role.
Children from ethnic minority groups are up to three times more likely to be strip-searched by police after an arrest than white children, according to Met Police data.
Police officers have worked in schools for decades and were formally introduced in the safer schools partnership programme in 2002. The programme is something schools can choose to sign up to. Depending what schools ask for, SSOs might offer assemblies, workshops or provide drop-in sessions for pupils. But some campaigners and community leaders are worried SSOs are doing more harm than good.
Dr Shabna Begum, head of research at the Runnymede Trust, is concerned schools could be leaning too heavily on police to sort out “quite trivial” behavioural or pastoral problems that should be dealt with by teaching staff.
If this is happening, black children may face harsher consequences – creating a pathway to the criminal justice system.
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