Police officers have been instructed to ‘increase their visible patrols’ at schools and engage with school staff to obtain information about ‘community tensions’.Police officers have been instructed to ‘increase their visible patrols’ at schools and engage with school staff to obtain information about ‘community tensions’.
According to the Met, the aims of the increased policing activities in schools are “keeping young people safe, improving trust and confidence in the police and deterring them from criminal activity”. Stafford Scott, a veteran community campaigner, said: “It’s very likely these actions will stereotype and criminalise young people, especially those from minority backgrounds.
“This increased surveillance of children, and specifically on the ways that they are talking about political issues, can only have negative consequences,” said Kevin Blowe, coordinator of Netpol. “It will have a chilling effect on the open and honest discussion of ideas in schools, because young people will be rightly afraid that what they may say could ultimately be used by the police against them and their communities.
“Increased police patrols and surveillance creates a chilling effect that stops these important conversations from taking place.”