Police apprehending 32 a week at schools and universities

Schools around the country called the police 1658 times last year. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Police made an average of 32 apprehensions a week at schools and universities last year.

Figures issued under the Official Information Act show officers made an average of 1531 apprehensions each year from 1998 to deal with violence, drugs or sex offences.

Last year, they made 1658 apprehensions.

The number of apprehensions over violent offences jumped 27 per cent in the past decade - from 869 to 1064.

Total school enrolments rose only 4 per cent from 2001 to 2009 and lobbyists say the rise in offences is alarming.

Frances Nelson, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, the union representing more than 48,000 primary and early childhood teachers and staff, said schoolchildren had become more violent in recent years.

That, coupled with tighter occupational health and safety guidelines, meant schools often felt they had no choice but to call the police.

"It's about the increase in the type of violence, the number of incidents and perceived threat to the teachers, other staff and students. You cannot take a risk," Ms Nelson said.

Ernie Buutveld, president of the New Zealand Principals Federation, which represents 2300 school heads, said community groups, Ministry of Education representatives, the police and principals agreed legislation would not fix the problem of violence in schools. A solution should involve all parties working together.

These groups will address school violence at a meeting in Wellington on March 16 and 17.

The gathering will also look at suspending and standing down students. In most situations this is discouraged but Mr Buutveld such action was often needed in order to "deflate the situation".

Bob McCoskrie, national director of the Family First lobby group, said it was time for action to protect students and teachers.

"We have forgotten about the rights of law-abiding kids to feel safe, to not have disruption in the classroom, not be intimidated and be free of violence and bullying in the workplace."

Mr McCoskrie said he was concerned schools were discouraged from suspending or standing down their students but encouraged to bring in police officers fulltime.

Manurewa High School has had a police officer on-site for nine years. Principal Richard Thornton said it seemed a necessary measure for a school in the "tough part of town".

The officer was made fulltime, rather than working there a few days a week, following the introduction of a Government scheme to put police in 10 low-decile secondary schools.

Mr Thornton said the officer's presence made a huge difference to violence and bullying rates. But the school also employed three social workers, two guidance counsellors, three nurses, a youth worker, a truancy officer and an attendance officer.

He said this was in order to "provide the support kids need in order to engage with the school and learning".

Tables obtained by the Herald show that 61 per cent of violent offences at schools nationwide were followed up with either family conferences, prosecution in the Youth Court, warnings or arrests, or referrals to the police Youth Aid section.

Just 6 per cent of the 470 reports of sexual offending warranting police intervention resulted in prosecution in the Youth Court.

* An earlier version of this story incorrectly said there were 40 callouts at schools each week of the academic year. The figures actually relate to the whole year, referred to apprehensions not callouts, and involved all educational institutions, not just schools.