HUNDREDS of school staff members from across Swindon and Wiltshire gathered at the Corn Exchange in Devizes on Tuesday, 25th February, for a crucial training event focused on planning and preparedness for major incidents within school environments.
The Emergency Preparedness training, spearheaded by Wiltshire Council's Education Safeguarding Effectiveness team, aimed to increase awareness of the coordinated actions emergency services would take in response to significant incidents within school settings.
Attendees heard powerful testimonies from officers and students directly involved in the stabbing incident at Tewkesbury Academy in July 2023, providing invaluable insights into the realities of emergency response protocols.
Chief Inspector Carly Newsbitt emphasised the collective responsibility to ensure maximum preparedness for the safety and well-being of children and young people. "The onus is on all of us - schools, police, and our partners, to ensure we are as prepared as possible to safeguard our children," she said.
Inspector Dan Lane, of Wiltshire Police's Specialist Operations, briefed schools on what to expect from firearms officers and general policing approach in lockdown situations. He said: "This event is not driven by a specific heightened threat to school settings. However, given the unfortunate reality of incidents occurring more frequently, proactive preparedness is essential and prudent."
The event urged schools to critically examine and practice their existing lockdown procedures to ensure effective and decisive action in the event of an incident on school property. Lockdown procedures, which involve securing children and staff within buildings, are crucial in emergencies such as hostile intruders, terrorist threats or other criminal activity.
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