§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any guidance is to be given to local education authorities and schools about closer co-operation with the police; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe police have a valuable contribution to make in our schools on road safety, crime prevention, law and order and in explaining their role. Most schools welcome the police but some do not and I greatly deprecate this. It means that their pupils are deprived of the help and advice which the police can offer them and a valuable opportunity is being lost for developing a better understanding between young people and the police.
A discussion document on effective co-operation between the schools and police has been prepared jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Society of Education Officers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I welcome this initiative. Copies are being sent today to all local education authorities in England for distribution to 285W individual schools and separate arrangements are being made for Welsh schools. Copies are also being sent to independent schools. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is arranging for distribution to all police forces in England and Wales.
I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.