When to
FAO: Headteachers, DSLs, Behaviour Leads.
These two documents give advice to schools and colleges in regards to incidents on school or college premise where pupils have potentially committed a crime.
‘When to contact the police’ provides guidance on what schools and colleges should bear in mind when considering contacting the police. Many incidents in schools and colleges can be dealt with and resolved internally. The school or college behaviour policy will give guidance on how to deal with and record such incidents. The school or college should ensure a balance is struck between the needs of the pupils involved and the needs of other pupils and the wider school or college community when making a decision to involve the police.
The DfE advice, ‘searching, screening and confiscation’ is intended to explain schools’ powers of screening and searching pupils so that school staff have the confidence to use them. It includes statutory guidance which schools must have regard to.
It is advised that schools review their behaviour policy to ensure they are up-to-date.
Dani Lang – Senior School Improvement Advisor for Safeguarding & Inclusion