Suburban Policing Strategy for ACT schools
The Suburban Policing Strategy, or SPS, combines community-oriented policing with new technologies and information from members of the community to create an approach especially tailored to Canberra’s needs.
Under the SPS, policing teams are assigned responsibility for developing solutions to crime issues within particular suburbs.
Police maintain strong relationships with community organisations as well as ensuring ongoing communication with business owners and schools.
ACT Policing teams also engage the community through proactive patrols in their allocated suburban sectors and seek advice from locals to identify potential issues before they become more serious problems.
Members of the community will see familiar faces among the police team patrolling their local shops, suburbs and schools.
How can police help schools?
The Suburban Policing Strategy (SPS) puts Canberra’s police in closer contact with schools. A range of initiatives and activities have been undertaken since the inception of the strategy including:
- patrols of schools, primarily after hours;
- proactive traffic targetting;
- meetings with school principals to address general and specific issues of concern; and
- provision of advice regarding unwanted visitors causing problems.
Police also work closely with schools through the Canberra Police and Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). The PCYC uses the vehicle of sport and recreation to give all youth, especially “Youth at Risk”, the opportunity to be involved in positive and safe environments that promote good and positive behaviour. This allows people to develop socially, morally and physically. More information is available at the PCYC website.
How can schools help police?
Schools are encouraged to contact police in accordance with their Providing Safe Schools Policy. The rationale of the policy is to provide a framework for ACT schools to assist in the development of procedures in addressing areas such as bullying, harassment and violence in schools.
Through the Suburban Policing Strategy, schools can advise police of any ongoing issues or problems which may require police intervention. Your SPS contact officer can be contacted via Police Operations on 131 444, or via email SPS through the AFP website.
Contacting police
See the ACT Policing contact guide for schools (PDF, 99kB) for full information about contacting police.
In a life-threatening emergency, always call 000. For non-urgent police assistance, call 131 444. To provide information to police, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.