Camden New Journal - News: Police set for return to school, despite protests

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Camden New Journal - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 14 February 2008

Police set for return to school, despite protests

POLICE officers will return to a West Hampstead secondary school despite opposition from parents.
Governors at Hampstead School in Westbere Road agreed to reinstate an officer at the school at a closed meeting on Thursday.
Last month parents told staff during a meeting that they objected to a police presence at the school following an incident outside its gates two years ago involving 40 riot police.
The skirmish in 2006 resulted in the head, Jacques Szemalikowski, pursuing a complaint against officers on the grounds of heavy-handedness and racial targeting of pupils.
He said this week: “We want to reaffirm our commitment to the Safer Schools Partnership officer for a whole range of reasons such as the safety of students and building up trust and a team around the child.”
Mr Szemalikowski denied that police in schools criminalised pupils.
He said: “The whole agenda is not to criminalise children – it’s to de-escalate situations.”
A new officer is expected to join the school, which has 1,200 pupils, by the end of the month.
Responding to criticism levelled at the scheme in the past few weeks – including an article written by eight parents in the New Journal last week – Mr Szemalikowski said the majority of parents were in favour of a school officer.
“I haven’t had a groundswell of parents opposed, it’s been an absolute minority,” he said.
Parent Richard Olszewski said: “Opposition needs to be kept in perspective. I’m very happy they’re bringing back a police officer.”

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