School Summer Watch cuts vandalism in half

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Vandalism to Renfrewshire schools during the summer holidays has been reduced by more than 50 per cent thanks in part to the Summer School Watch scheme.

The scheme is a joint initiative run by Renfrewshire Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Investigations Team, community wardens and Strathclyde Police. Its aim is to reduce the volume of vandalism to school buildings during the holidays.

Over the 2008 summer holidays the campaign targeted 14 schools across Renfrewshire - an increase from 10 the previous year. This year saw a reduction in the cost of vandalism to schools from £24,373 in summer 2007 to £12,023 in summer 2008.

This follows on from the success of the Spring School Watch scheme which saw a 48 per cent reduction in vandalism to Renfrewshire’s schools over the Easter holidays.

Part of the campaign sees schools being frequently patrolled by police and wardens during holidays, as well as posters being circulated warning that schools are covered by CCTV cameras. Local residents are also urged to report any anti-social behaviour to the police.

The reduction is also in part due to significant investment by Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Leisure department to install shutters at schools which had previously been targeted by vandals. The most impressive reduction has been at Heriot Primary where costs of vandalism were reduced by 91%.

Councillor Brian Lawson, Renfrewshire Council’s Community Safety spokesman, said: “The Summer School Watch scheme has been a great success. It has continued the achievements of the Spring School Watch by significantly reducing the amount of money having to be spent on repairing mindless vandalism such as smashing windows and damaging school property.

“This kind of anti-social behaviour blights our communities and uses up funds which could be much better spent to benefit local residents.”

Superintendent Donald McCallum, sub-divisional officer for Renfrewshire, said: “Due to the support from our partner agencies and the local community, this initiative has been very successful in reducing break-ins and damage to schools across Renfrewshire during the summer holidays.

“Local police, in tandem with neighbourhood wardens, will continue their efforts to make a difference and reduce the type of crime that can blight a community and result in a considerable unnecessary financial drain on local authority funds.

“I would urge everyone to act responsibly and report anti-social behaviour and vandalism which occurs at, or around, school premises to their local police office.”

News release: Thursday 18 September 2008