The School Resource Programme was given special mention in the House of Assembly for helping reduce the number of incidents that Police respond to at schools.

Since its inception four years ago, the programme has helped lower incidents by 65 percent.

The initiative was adopted by the Bermuda Police Service, with cooperation from the Ministry of Education and Development, as a means of improving relationships between students and the Policecommended the efforts of seven Police officers who served on the School Resource Programme in primary, middle and senior schools.

?These officers are not in schools to seek out criminals,? he said. ?However, the unfortunate truth is that our students face an overwhelming list of risk factors. These include the availability of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, abuse in its varied forms, exposure to violence both personally and via the media, other antisocial behaviours, academic failure, low neighbourhood attachment and community disorganisation.?

Police officers provide students with guidance, support, diversion from crime and help to prevent students from entering the penal system. They also visit students? homes and liaise with parents, working with educators and counsellors forming a triad that supports students who are at risk of developing criminal traits or already are displaying such traits.

Mr. Lister said officers also build relationships with students and interact with them on issues that are directly relevant to them and provide a consistent Police presence in public schools.

Students continued to respond well to the REACH programme at primary school level, but a more robust role needed to be envisioned at middle school level so officers could assist specifically with de-escalating violence and addressing the gang concept.

In the 2001-2002 period there were 81 Police responses to incidents at senior schools.

In 2002-2003 period this dropped to eight responses and by December last year, this number had dropped to five.