Media Release: Secured Environments accreditation improves inner city school security
July 2007
Brentside High School is the first secondary school in the UK to achieve the new police approved Secured Environments award. Secured Environments is a new risk management standard, launched earlier this year to promote good security practice in organisations by focusing on strategy, process and people. It compliments the successful ACPO-supported Secured by Design initiative.
Brentside High School is a PFI school which has recently been redesigned and as part of that security has been a primary factor. When 23% of teachers believe their school building does not offer the right level of safety and security (Teacher Support Network) the Secured Environments accreditation is an excellent way to ensure that school leaders take the steps needed to ensure that school safety and security are taken seriously.
From left: Prof Martin Gill of PRCI, partners with
ACPO CPI for the Award scheme; Supt Rowell , Head of Operations, Ealing
Police; Arwel Jones, Head Teacher Brentside High School; Rachel Black,
LBE Director of Education
Arwel Jones, the Headmaster, stated:
"Brentside High School is very proud to be the first secondary school in the country to have achieved the Secured Environments award. In challenging times it is reassuring for staff and students that they work in a safe and secure environment. The school is committed to having a secure environment for all our stakeholders and carries out regular risk assessments regarding any potential problems and also what action to take should any issues arise. We would be delighted to share our success in gaining the award in order to show other schools and institutions that this is an important aspect of our work."
Crime Prevention Design Advisor Pat Cogan, Ealing Borough Police commented:
"Brentside is thinking of crime and its consequences, as demonstrated by this essential award, and is putting in measures to minimise the crime risk. The schools management and the London Borough of Ealing’s Education Department should be applauded for taking up the Secured Environments challenge for the benefit of both pupils and staff."
Steve Dunham, Ealing Council Schools Services said:
"Brentside High School is to be congratulated on the fantastic commitment they have made to improving security at their school. Safer communities is one of the council’s three priorities and this award recognises that in working together we can continue to make the borough a safe and secure place to live."
EDITOR NOTES:
Secured Environments is a new risk management scheme that was launched on 12 April, 2007 to promote good security practices in organisations by focusing on strategy, process and people.
The scheme has been developed by ACPO Crime Prevention Initiatives in partnership with Perpetuity, one of the country’s leading crime and security consultancies and a spin-out from the University of Leicester. It complements the existing ACPO-supported Secured by Design project.
Secured Environments assess organisations to see if they have made security an inherent part of how they are managed. If they pass the specified standards, organisations are certified as being secure by ACPO CPI and awarded the ‘Police’ Secured Environments Certificate.
The scheme has been successfully piloted on a number of organisations including schools and business in different parts of the country.
A key advantage of Secured Environments is that helps organisations to think about their risks and how to make the best use of security measures they already have.