Wentworth school searches to ensure safety
Police are conducting searches to keep children safe.
WENTWORTH SAPS has embarked on a school search programme as they step up their aim to protect the youth in the community.
The Wentworth SAPS social crime prevention unit along with volunteers is conducting searches at local schools in an effort to reduce the number of illegal items brought into schools and increase the safety of pupils.
The social crime prevention unit’s Warrant Officer Ballan Reddi and Constable Natasha Mei, assisted by crime prevention’s Captain Lynton Houston and Constables Singh and Govender and community volunteers have already done searches at two schools, Fairvale Secondary and Umbilo Secondary, where cigarettes and lighters, rolling papers and mobile phones were found.
“Wentworth SAPS felt it was important to do these searches to make sure every pupil is safe in school. Principals were informed prior to this and permission was granted and pupils were given the opportunity to declare to the officers any unlawful items they had in their possession before the search was conducted,” said Wentworth SAPS communications officer, Lieutenant M Gumede.
W/O Reddi said parents need to take a more active role in monitoring their children with regards to taking of prohibited items to schools.
“Wentworth SAPS is committed to conducting these school searches to safeguard the safety of our children in schools. Pupils are warned not to carry knives, screwdrivers, sharp objects or any dangerous objects. A pupil found with these objects will be arrested and charged under the Dangerous Weapons Act. These school searches are ongoing and will take place unannounced, at any given time,” said Lt Gumede.
