How schools work with Police Scotland

Schools will think carefully about when to work with Police Scotland Officers, seeking guidance and support from colleagues, policies, and the law.

In the first instance, the matter should be reported to the Headteacher to be dealt with under normal school discipline procedures unless judged to be a serious incident.

Schools will deal with issues of behaviour or discipline and will only contact Police Scotland Officers if:

  • something happens in school that involves behaviours that have hurt someone either verbally or physically that need the police, or
  • when something has happened outside of school where Police involvement would be necessary and appropriate, and which is having an impact within the school.

Who do we work with?

Community Police Officers

These officers work in a local area but are also linked to primary schools, where they provide in school support linked to curriculum and community engagement.

Youth Engagement Officers (YEO)

These officers are linked to secondary schools. There are 8 officers who are linked to the 16 secondary schools. They mostly work during school hours and on site in the schools. They can be called on to do deal with other police matters so may not always be able to speak to you straight away.

Youth Engagement Officers also work with young people to prevent behaviours that might cause harm to themselves or others.

This might involve:

  • working with young people to influence attitudes and behaviours
  • ensuring that young people feel safe and protected
  • making young people aware of the impact their actions might have and deter them from crime in the first instance or to prevent future reoffending
  • supporting the best interests of all children (Getting it Right for Every Child)
  • to support children and young people to reduce the longer-term impact of toxic traumatic and adverse experiences they may have had (Adverse Childhood Experience)
  • providing a consistent approach to youth engagement within schools and communities
  • promoting a supportive and positive environment for young people to flourish and contribute to the wellbeing of communities.

How the Police will engage with children and young people

During the course of an investigation, police are entitled to ask questions of anyone. Where a pupil is a potential witness or suspect that person must supply their name and address when asked.

Police guidelines say that where a pupil is to be interviewed, a parent or carer should, if possible, be present. If it is not possible, a teacher should be present.

  • Where a pupil is to be interviewed as a witness, they should be advised of this.
  • Where a pupil is a suspect and is to be interviewed, they will be cautioned/ advised of their right of silence and need not answer any question put to them, other than supply their name and address.

No pupil at school should be interviewed at school unless it is essential in the interests of justice to obtain the pupil’s statement without delay. If it is found necessary to interview a pupil at school, the interview should take place in the presence of the Head teacher, or a teacher deputised for the purpose.

How are incidents reported by children, young people and Parent or Carers. A call or report can be made via 101, and if it involves an incident at a school, but is reported out with school hours, it may be a response officer who comes to your home address and carries out a criminal enquiry, however they will likely link with the YEO for the school.

If Police are involved, the school will have no control of when you will be contacted, how long any investigation may take or when they will be able to report back to you. The YEO will talk to the young person and parents or carers. The YEO will also talk with the school about any action that they can take to help resolve the incident.

Incidents in relation to online safety

Online safety incidents are part of our digital world.

The Online Safety Act 2023 outlines key areas that can help parents and young people understand how to stay safe online. This Online Safety Act explainer publication provides an easier to read format.

This act covers user to user’s service providers and regulated search service providers. They have duties to

  • remove illegal content
  • protect children
  • user empowerment
  • ensure content of democratic importance, news publisher content and journalistic content
  • ensure freedom of expression and privacy
  • prevent fraudulent advertising

Under S184 of the Act – It is an offence to encourage or assist serious self-harm.

This can be online, in person or through any form of communication, so not solely relate to “online activity”.

Under S127 of the Communication Act 2003 it is an offence to send by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character; or causes any such message or matter to be so sent.

Issues relating to specific provision within schools should be escalated as follows:

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