Patrols

Pupil Watch respond to changes and events in Birmingham

There were no cancellations of patrol last term, which enabled the team to provide a consistent approach throughout the city. All planned Operational Command Unit patrols went ahead. Bullring Since it’s opening the Bullring Shopping Centre has become a target for Pupil Watch patrol.

Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (BASBU) Ways of working together with BASBU in terms of information sharing and patrols were identified in November 2003. Areas for future joint work between Pupil Watch and BASBU officers will be identified. Operation Safer Travel Patrols have been conducted in partnership with Travel West Midlands and West Midlands Police. For more information please visit our Operation Safer Travel page. Clothes Show The Clothes show began on Friday 5th December at the NEC. In conjunction with colleagues from Education Welfare Service-Solihull and security staff from the NEC two patrols were planned to take place simultaneously at New Street Station with British Transport Police and at Birmingham International. Visit by George Bush to England Pupil Watch responded to the visit by President George Bush during the week of 17th November by providing a supplementary city centre patrol. Pupil Watch provided the link between the Force Community Safety Bureau, Travel West Midlands and Birmingham City Council Parks Department to monitor and respond to any indication of an increase in the levels of young people travelling into the city to prevent the repeat of the student demonstrations of May 2003. Visit by Westlife to HMV Pupil Watch responded to a visit to HMV’s city centre by high profile pop band ‘Westlife’. Discussions were held with the security staff at HMV, which influenced the change of decision to issue wristbands to young people from during school hours to before the school day began. Pupil Watch patrolled in and around HMV advising parents and children/young people about the importance of regular attendance and parental responsibility. National Truancy Sweeps The Department for Education and Skills request that Local Authorities conduct Truancy Sweeps twice a year. Pupil Watch carry out patrols on a daily basis. Truancy sweeps were held for three weeks beginning on 17th November – 5th December and Pupil Watch conducted 23 patrols and made 357 contacts.