Police advise installing CCTV and strong access controls at Abia schools

The state’s police command has provided school administrators, parents, and students with important ways to prioritise their safety following the restart of classes in Abia State.

The Abia State Police Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, revealed the security plans in a statement she released in Umuahia.

The statement urged school administration to carry out rigorous security evaluations of their facilities, spot weak spots, and make sure that security professionals are posted at key school entry points.

It encouraged schools in the State to install and maintain Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in key spots within school premises to monitor activities, while also advising that trained security professionals they engaged should communicate with the police to give further help as needed.

The command advised school management to train their staff on various security situations like fire, lockdowns, and evacuation procedures while also recommending that strict access control measures, including the use of access cards and visitor logs, be implemented by school authorities.

It added that any suspicious activity surrounding school environments should be immediately reported to security services and that open lines of contact with neighbourhood law enforcement organisations and the community should be created.

The statement asked parents to stay up-to-date on any security updates or adjustments to school policy in order to preserve open lines of communication with their children while they are in school.

In addition to this, the Abia State Police Command urged parents to give schools up-to-date emergency contact information so they may be contacted in case of an emergency.

“Make sure your child uses a safe and dependable mode of transport if they commute to school. Know the specifics of the driver’s route, the message further recommended Abia parents.