Police are taking a zero-tolerance approach to school violence.
Speaking on the Trinidad and Tobago Today show on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin, who oversees the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s School-Oriented Policing Unit, stressed that the TTPS will take a firm stance against school violence, whether incidents occur on school grounds or elsewhere.
His comments follow the circulation of a video showing a school fight on the first day of the new academic year.
“We have a zero tolerance approach, any time the offence that is before us is one that reaches the threshold where a person can be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction, we would ensure that the full brunt of the law would be at least extended. And therefore we believe a person can make a mistake, but certainly we don’t want that mistake to be one that would be life threatening.”
DCP Benjamin said the approach will go beyond police patrols and presence on school compounds, with additional initiatives targeting at-risk students.
“We are going to have the community policing going into these schools as well and augmenting the strength and also our initiatives by having them go and speak to the at-risk students and address some of these concerns. We also have certain initiatives that will be coming on this year. You will hear more about it where we will be bringing the police band as well as some other key persons to come and talk to some of these students.”
He also called on parents to take responsibility for their children and offered advice.
“It is important to know where their children are, who at least they are liming with and what they are doing even before and after school. I think that parents must also take that initiative to see what the children are doing, especially when they are online, because many times we recognise that the fights that we’re seeing are sometimes coming from online threats and even different arguments that is sent online.”
The head of the School-Oriented Policing Unit noted that its approach goes beyond arresting those who break the law.
“We recognise that at-risk youths need that level of mentorship, that level of counselling. We would refer persons in such a case, and we would seek to do our part in really trying to steer and create a safer environment. For the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, it is about really letting the children understand that their future is bright and they need to protect that future, and we are here to help them protect that future. So it’s not about us arresting them, but we really want to create a more comfortable environment for learning.”
DCP Benjamin said the unit is concerned by the increase in school violence and the number of students found with marijuana at school.