London headteacher says the removal of dedicated schools officers was "the single most catastrophic decision in keeping children safe in the last 10 years"

Evening Standard

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00:00As a headteacher in London, in Southwark, as we've discovered, do you agree with the Mets' decision to remove safer school officers and why?

00:10And I can see the others who are both shaking their heads.

00:13So thank you for that.

00:14In the spirit of being brutally honest, as Ashley earlier said, on behalf of those children,

00:18I think it's a single most catastrophic decision in keeping children safe in the last 10 years of my professional experience.

00:24I am crushed by it, personally, and at a loss is to explain how it's happened.

00:31And I'm on all the panels.

00:35I don't feel – well, I have confirmed, and the person who's going to sit in my chair next, you can ask,

00:40that no consultation was done on this decision.

00:44I am a part of the Pan-London Safer Schools Partnership Board.

00:48It was announced to us.

00:49I expressed my surprise at that meeting, and there was surprise at my surprise.

00:52I think there are a number of things.

00:57It's not going to be undone.

00:59Let's be clear.

01:00The reason for that that has been largely given is budget and recruitment, and because schools are safe.

01:07And there are two massive issues for me.

01:09One of them speaks to the Nolan principles around transparency.

01:11There's been a question about transparency and accountability already.

01:15We were told – so what's happened is that things have continued to be cut while the blueprinting is still being done.

01:22In my BCU, there are 16 posts for DWOCYP.

01:29That's the new version, which is not based in schools at all.

01:33No.

01:33Which does not have a shift pattern that recognises schools.

01:37So you might well be working when we are not.

01:40Which doesn't have a line management structure that has a school's desk.

01:43And I'm going to stop you there.

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