00:00When we look at Tobago, we are seeing a reduction in the number of incidents compared to the former years
00:11of school telemetry.
00:13Right now, we are in two schools in Tobago, and we are seeing at least a trend in a positive
00:21direction.
00:22And therefore, it tells us that it is bearing fruit in terms of having the police officers in the schools.
00:28Only two incidents have been reported since the police and schools initiative was implemented throughout schools in Tobago.
00:37DCP Benjamin said the issue of vaping is being looked at.
00:42It's probably happening, and then we have to look to see if it is happening in other schools, and it's
00:48just that it's not being reported.
00:50So we are still going to allow the data to guide us, but right now, I do not have any
00:56evidence to say that I've seen an increase in vaping in Tobago.
01:00Officer Benjamin said there was an increase in violence in schools across Tobago before the police and schools initiative was
01:09implemented.
01:09Prior to having the police officers in the schools, we would have seen an increase in fightings in the Tobago
01:17division.
01:19And therefore, when we compare that to now, we are saying that we are seeing a reduction in the fightings
01:25within the schools.
01:27Not that there are not fightings, but we are saying we are seeing a reduction.
01:30And therefore, for us, that is a trend in the right direction.
01:34As to the situation of bullying in schools, he said the matter can be reported to police.
01:39A number of parents reached out to TV6 News, complaining of the children being forced to hand over their lunch
01:48monies to fellow students.
01:50Benjamin said the matter can be reported to police, as the charge of demanding money by menace can be laid.
01:59There is bullying within the school population that is not alien to schools.
02:07And therefore, that is also an area that we will be looking into, both bullying physically and those that are
02:14happening online.
02:15And therefore, we are going to be looking at that.
02:18And any time we see any person involved in that, we are going to have a zero tolerance in relation
02:25to that.
02:26And once we have enough evidence, we will bring those students at least to ensure that they go before a
02:34heart of competent jurisdiction.
02:36Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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