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School resource officers

<div class="ExternalClass29710CF5860B410D956243466A76B7D0">Part of a safe community is having safe schools. Only then, can children reach their full potential and take control of their own lives. To help protect the futures of our children, we launched The School Resource Officer (SRO) Unit initiative, in partnership with the <a href="https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/home/" target="_blank">Western Cape Education Department</a>. </div>

<h2 class="sectHeading">Responsibilities of the SROs</h2>Currently, a total of 36 Law Enforcement Officers have been appointed to the unit and paired with 36 schools across the province to ensure the safety of the learning environment and for everyone in it. Our 36 SROs work with their schools to find and address the problems that may lead to disorder, ill discipline, and crime. Together, they develop strategies to solve these problems and ultimately make schools and their surroundings safer. Also, in the absence of an ideal situation where each school has a social worker, the SROs are more than just policing staff. Their roles and responsibilities include providing social support at schools.<blockquote cite="https://www.capetown.gov.za"> "The primary objective of the SRO is to help make schools a safe place to learn and to build a positive relationship between policing staff and the youth in communities, with the goal of reducing crimes committed by juveniles and young adults." Alderman JP Smith<cite>Mayoral Committee Member: Safety and Security </cite></blockquote>Their responsibilities include:<ul><li>early identification of illegal activities by at risk youth;</li><li>developing ‘safe movement corridors’ with local security agencies, allowing learners to get to and from schools safely;</li><li>preventing delinquency through close contact and positive relationships with learners;</li><li>patrolling school grounds to stop criminal or delinquent behaviour; and</li><li>being visible within the school community and attending and participating in school functions in a safety capacity.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">SROs supporting schools and communities</h2> Because so many children spend much of their day at schools, it is important to ensure that the environments in which teaching and learning take place are safe and secure. <blockquote cite="https://wwww.cite.co.za"> "I am pleased that the SROs are equipped to provide support to the participating schools, as well as their staff, learners, parent groups and the communities in which they operate as they are all affected." Debbie Schafer<cite>Western Cape Minister of Education </cite></blockquote>In addition to providing onsite law enforcement services, school resource officers will develop school-based crime prevention programmes in collaboration with the principal and safety committee. Maintaining good communication and relationships between the police and the community is crucial to effective crime-fighting. School resource officers help promote the profession of police officer, while providing a positive role-model for learners at schools across the province. SROs will also assist with:<ul><li>helping the school safety committee and administrator with emergency/disaster preparedness planning and building security;</li><li>increasing the visibility and accessibility of police to the school community; and</li><li>supporting the recruitment and development of youth volunteers, particularly through the Metro Police Youth Cadet Programme.</li></ul>

SROs are a vital investment in the safety of our children and teachers in their learning environments.