Search Training for Teachers
The Violent Crime Reduction Act has been produced by the government in response to violent incidents around the country. One aspect of the Act is that it gives teachers the right to search pupils in order to find and confiscate weapons.
There are many different statistics quoted about the number of young people that take weapons into schools and colleges. Some of these are alarmist, while others seem to be from professionals that would rather bury their head in the sand than face up to what is undoubtedly a problem.
One fact that can not be ignored is that young people are being injured and sometimes killed by other young people within educational establishments.
Be Safe have been liaising with the Home Office and with DFES to help establish realistic guidelines for teachers on the implementation of this Act and the vital training necessary for teachers that do decide to search young people within their establishments.
Searching armed people is inherently dangerous and it is vital that staff be properly trained to perform such tasks. It is also vital that establishments have accurate risk assessments and strong policies and guidelines for those undertaking a search. This is to protect both the personal safety of the individuals and the professional integrity of staff and the establishment.