JCF bolsters school safety ahead of new term

With thousands of students set to return to the classroom, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says it is stepping up preparations to ensure the new school year gets off to a safe start.

The JCF says this involves identifying where the risks are, recognising vulnerable students early and ensuring the right partnerships are in place to intervene before problems escalate.

National Safe Schools Coordinator, Sergeant Andrew Williams, has indicated that school resource officers (SROs) are ready to reconnect with students, while encouraging parents to make contact with the officers assigned to their children’s schools.

“Your school resource officer is there for you,” Williams said, noting that parents can reach out when their children face threats, bullying, peer pressure or other challenges.

Williams, along with St Catherine North Community Safety and Security Branch Sub-officer in Charge, Sergeant Kester Fennel, was speaking on the police’s Force for Good Podcast.

He explained that the SRO can then engage the dean of discipline, guidance counsellor and school administration to determine the best way to address the situation.

As part of its preparations, the JCF is also taking a preventative approach to guard against gang recruitment in schools.

Fennel said SROs will pay close attention to student behaviours and group formations that could signal emerging gang influence, as preventing recruitment within schools remains a key priority.

“We recognise that preventing them from recruiting new members, especially from our schools, is absolutely important,” he said.

He explained that where concerns are identified, officers will work with school administrators, guidance counsellors and parents to determine the appropriate intervention, including connecting at-risk students to mentorship programmes.

Fennel said the engagement will continue beyond the school compound, with SROs monitoring known loitering areas, addressing truancy and maintaining mentorship activities with students outside of school hours.

As the new school year approaches, the JCF is making it clear that its SROs are ready to respond, intervene early and help keep students safe in and beyond the classroom.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.