By Sacha Walters, Staff Reporter

An additional 30 officers were trained for the Safe Schools Programme for this school year.

"We haven't had any alarming incidents" since the start of the year, said Superintendent Norman Heywood, the coordinator of the police component of the Safe Schools Programme. The policing portion of the programme incorporates police officers in some schools to help curb violence in schools.

These officers joined a group of 90 older officers. Superintendent Heywood said they are in the process of preparing their quarterly report for the programme which is due in November.

One of the major focuses of the policing component of the programme is dismantling gangs which already exist in schools and confiscating drugs and weapons.

As of June 2006, the con-fiscation of drugs increased with 148 packets of marijuana being seized from students in schools.

Good relationship

"I endorse the system," said Dennis Kelly, the principal of Charlie Smith High School, one of the schools in the programme. He said his students have a good relationship with the new officer who works closely with the guidance counsellor at preventative counselling.

One hundred and fourteen schools participate in the programme but all schools do not have an officer.