KANGAR: Perlis police have assigned officers to schools in the state to look out for cases of bullying, physical violence and crime among students.
The state contingent crime prevention and community security department said the school liaison officers will monitor the 116 secondary and primary schools as well as tahfiz institutions in the state to curb crime in the schools.
Its head, Idris Mohamed, said police were placing an officer and a policeman in secondary schools and an officer in primary schools.
They would be required to conduct visits once or twice a month.
“The visit is to gather information as well as to assist the school in resolving problems and offences involving students,” he told Bernama.
Two cases of violence among students recently have highlighted the need for schoolchildren to be better protected against bullies and violence.
Yesterday, seven teenagers were arrested in Kunak, Sabah, for beating up a schoolboy at the weekly market grounds.
Five of them ganged up and repeatedly punched and kicked the boy senseless while their friend recorded the incident on video.
Last month, a boarding school in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, expelled 10 students over their alleged involvement in a bullying incident.
A video of the incident involving Form One students at the Sultan Azlan Shah Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) went viral on social media.
Idris said the police school liaison officers would also give talks and meet the school management and the parent-teacher association to ensure schools are free from crime.
“If a problem arises, we would not immediately lodge a report. We would instead discuss what action can be taken by the school or by police if necessary.
“This is the best mechanism to prevent students from becoming involved in crimes such as bullying and drug abuse,” he said.
He said police were also holding talks with the state education department to set up crime prevention clubs at the school level.
Last month, education minister Radzi Jidin said immediate and firm action will be taken against any school under the education ministry that attempts to hide cases of bullying.
He said a reporting system had been introduced whereby schools were required to report any case of bullying that happened on their premises.