Medway Labour have called for the reinstatement of the Schools Teams as soon as possible following an announcement by Kent Police on the 11th November of a retrospective redeployment of resources impacting numerous schools across Medway.

School teams and embedded officers within schools have became a critical and key component of developing relationships amongst risk groups and working with vulnerable young people. These officers developed important relationships with school professionals and worked closely with young people as a deterrent to future crime.

Commenting on this issue, Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Spokesperson for Community Safety said:

“The emergency announcement by Kent Police to retrospectively reduce these teams has not been welcomed by school leaders. These teams were an important part of community outreach and specifically working with vulnerable adults around issues such as anti-social behaviour and Drug Lines. Many of these officers had developed important and lasting relationships with professionals working on the frontline which allowed officers to proactively deter crime and deflect people from destructive pathways. The outcomes of these engagements were tangible and the loss of these officers will be felt in years to come.”

“These teams were redeployed due to resourcing issues at very short notice and we do have concerns about the current situation in North Kent with rapid redeployments and communications at present with the community.”

“Community safety and working in partnerships are a critical part of good Policing and this needs to be reflected in any forthcoming restructure of services.”

Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Cooperative Group Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, added:

“The loss of the schools’ policing team is a serious blow to our young people and to our communities. Medway Labour welcomed the Medway Schools’ Policing Team when it was set up.  At a time when our communities need the reassurance of an active police presence, building positive relationships with young people as schools deal with some of the social pressures of twelve years of austerity and the Covid pandemic, those policing resources are needed now more than ever.”