Understanding Police Contact in Schools

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (and deputy) are aware of the requirement for children to have an appropriate adult when in contact with Police officers who suspect them of an offence.

Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) – (PACE)

PACE states that anyone who appears to be under 18, shall, in the absence of clear evidence that they are older, be treated as a child for the purposes

PACE also states that If at any time an officer has any reason to suspect that a person of any age may be vulnerable, then that person is entitled to be accompanied by an appropriate adult at any point.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (or deputy) will communicate any vulnerabilities known by the school to any police officer who wishes to speak to a pupil about an offence they may suspect. This communication will be recorded on CPOMS.

Consideration flowchart when managing a police search of a pupil in school

Consideration-flowchart-when-managing-a-police-search-of-a-pupil-in-schoolDownload
 

If having been informed of the vulnerabilities, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or deputy) does not feel that the officer is acting in accordance with PACE, they should ask to speak with a supervisor or contact 101 to escalate their concerns.

A person whom there are grounds to suspect of an offence must be cautioned7 before being questioned about an offence8, or asked further questions if the answers they give provide the grounds for suspicion, or when put to them the suspect’s answers or silence, (i.e. failure or refusal to answer or answer satisfactorily) may be given in evidence to a court in a prosecution.

A police officer must not caution a juvenile or a vulnerable person unless the appropriate adult is present. If a child or a vulnerable person is cautioned in the absence of the appropriate adult, the caution must be repeated in the appropriate adult’s presence.

The appropriate adult’ means, in the case of a child:

  1. the parent, guardian or, if the juvenile is in the care of a local authority or voluntary organisation, a person representing that authority or organisation.

  2. a social worker of a local authority

  3. failing these, some other responsible adult aged 18 or over who is not:

    1. a police officer;

    2. employed by the police;

    3. under the direction or control of the chief officer of a police force; or

    4. a person who provides services under contractual arrangements (but without

      being employed by the chief officer of a police force), to assist that force in relation to the discharge of its chief officer’s functions,

Further information can be found in the Statutory guidance – PACE Code C 2019.

Searching, Screening and Confiscation – Advice for schools (2022Download
When to Call the Police, NPCCDownload