EIGHT schools in Bury have gone “live” with a revolutionary new computer system to allow pupils to report crime.
Non-emergency incidents or matters of concern can be raised in confidence without schoolchildren having to approach a teacher or police officer.
The initiative allows pupils to log on to a School Help Advice Reporting Page (SHARP) so they can highlight crime and other problems, either at their schools or colleges or within the community.
Youngsters can also seek advice and information on issues such as bullying, weapons, drugs and anti-social behaviour.
The site will be regularly monitored by the Bury division’s neighbourhood policing teams and it also offers the opportunity for youngsters to leave details if they want return contact.
The SHARP system is a national scheme which is being introduced in just a few of Greater Manchester’s police divisions.
It is being run at Radcliffe Riverside School, Bury College, St Gabriel’s RC High School, Prestwich Arts College, Woodhey High School, Castlebrook High School, Philips High School and Parrenthorn High School.
It will be rolled out at the borough’s remaining secondary schools over the coming months.
The move is in addition to the recent appointment of a neighbourhood police officer to every school in Bury, responsible for forging links with pupils, teachers and parents.
PC Andy Ferguson, who is part of the Prestwich neighbourhood policing team, said: “The benefits of the SHARP system are that it enables us to communicate with young people in a way which they are familiar with.
“It allows them to report their concerns to us anonymously without them having to approach us face-to-face which they could find intimidating.
“If this system stops one person from suffering any harm, or gives that one person who is crying out for help a ‘voice’, then it has achieved what the system was created for.”
Mark Cutting, assistant headteacher at Woodhey High, feels the new system will bring vital benefits to pupils.
“The obvious idea of this is that schoolchildren can report various non-emergency issues and concerns via this new website,” he said.
“Additionally, the system enables them to remain anonymous and we feel that is a good thing.
“We have just launched this at Woodhey. Pupils at our school can access the website with any computer which has the software.”
Prestwich Arts College headteacher Geoff Barlow said: “The first priority of any school is to create an environment where children are safe and, thereby, happy.
“This allows students to achieve their full potential and I am delighted to support this partnership with Greater Manchester Police because it addresses precisely these issues.”
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