Safeguarding Birmingham Pupils

This support has been provided through the purchase of a patrol vehicle, which will enable and improve the level of patrol activity across the City and in turn, improve the service provided by the Pupil Watch Team.  Pupil Watch, were established in October 2001 and started out as a partnership between the Education Welfare Service and West Midlands Police.

The aim of the Pupil Watch Team is to promote regular school attendance at both primary and secondary level. Team members engage with parents, local communities and businesses to reduce levels of unauthorised absence from schools throughout Birmingham.

Children whether unaccompanied or accompanied by adults during school hours, are approached to ascertain why they are not in school. Those without genuine reason will be returned to their school or place of safety. Absence from school damages children’s education and can affect their future prospects. It also puts them at greater risk of accidental harm, of becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime and of anti-social behaviour. By conducting joint patrols with police officers, these operations enable the team to promote working in partnership with other organisations that has a beneficial effect on the community.

Chris Brolan, Pupil Watch Co-ordinator comments:

“We’re out on the City’s streets trying to safeguard our young people. We understand that there are young people out there who have real issues that impact on their education. The Education Welfare Service is here to support them and their families.”

Section 16 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, empowers the Police to remove a child or young person whom they believe to be of statutory school age and to be absent from school without good cause, from a public place and return them to a school or another place designated by a local education authority.

By working together with West Midlands Police and Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, Pupil Watch contributes to the ongoing reduction and prevention of youth crime during school hours in Birmingham.

Operation Safer Travel and Gateway checks are similar activities that reflect the partnership between Travel West Midlands, West Midlands Police and Pupil Watch Operation Safer Travel statistics have shown that 70% of crime committed on Travel West Midlands’ buses is by passengers aged 12-20. The purpose of these operations is to detect and reduce anti-social behaviour and crime on buses and the Midland Metro.

During these joint operations buses are stopped and passenger’s tickets and travel cards are checked in order to identify fraudulent travel by Travel WM and Police Officers board the vehicles for travelling criminals or to identify potential vulnerable people and offer them support. Pupil Watch supports these activities by identifying children who should be in school, whether accompanied or unaccompanied by parent’s/guardians. It provides an excellent opportunity to address the issue of parentally condoned absence, one of the key targets for the Education Welfare Service.

Comments by Inspector 3896 Ian Grundy Safer Travel Team

“Our research shows that young people are at more risk of being a victim whilst the bus network than any other group, so having Pupilwatch Staff working alongside us is of great benefit. We are able to identify young people not attending, who may be at risk of being victims of crime and get them back to school. Also we are able to identify the few who may be committing crime whilst not attending school and get the right interventions in place for them. My team of PCSOs are out and about on the bus network every working day and they can now report to Pupilwatch the details of any young people who they think may be not attending school so that if necessary retrospective action can be taken by them.”

All young people deserve the chance to make a success of their lives. Good school attendance increases our young peoples’ chances of success. The lifelong cost of poor attendance can be high. The Education Welfare Service works with pupils, parents and carers from all Birmingham Schools offering advice and support where there are problems or worries about attending school regularly.

To find out more click onto www.pupilwatch@birmingham.gov.uk