Ottawa – September 17, 2007 – The RCMP has created the School Action for Emergencies (SAFE) Plan to establish standardized procedures for emergency response by law enforcement and other emergency service agencies. Developed and maintained by the RCMP, it is designed to enhance the safety and security of our youth in schools.
To date approximately 300 schools have provided information for entry to the database, with an overall goal to have SAFE Plans completed in every school within RCMP jurisdictions across the country in the coming months.
“The safety and security of our youth is of paramount importance to Canada’s New Government,” said Minister Day. “That is why we commend the efforts of the RCMP and its SAFE plan, which provides the tools and information needed for a stronger, coordinated response to emergency situations in our schools.”
Through the SAFE Plan, police officers have access to a computer database of school premises containing photographs, floor plans, and pre-identified emergency procedures for each school. In the event of a serious incident, SAFE Plan information will allow RCMP members to quickly coordinate an emergency response which will contribute to the safety of everyone involved. The goal of the plan is to help keep children and educators safe.
“September is a busy time for students going back to school across the country, and only last week we were reminded of the tragic shootings at Dawson College,” says Inspector Rick Shaw, Officer in Charge of the RCMP National Youth Services. “We have looked at past situations and put into practice measures that will help emergency responders provide a coordinated response to potentially dangerous situations.”
The SAFE Plan is modeled after the Peel Regional Police School Police Emergency Action Response Program (S.P.E.A.R.); a computer database and proactive emergency preparedness plan developed after the tragic events at Columbine. The RCMP Chief Information Officer Sector used a survey of Canadian school information to develop an up-to-date and readily available computer database of school blue prints, aerial photos, material inventories, and emergency procedures.
The SAFE Plan will help standardize a national lock-down procedure and will assist law enforcement agencies in coordinating responses to emergencies.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the Canadian Association of Principals and the Canadian Association of School Administrators have endorsed the RCMP’s National Youth Officer Program that provides structure to activities undertaken by police officers in schools across the country, including the SAFE Plan. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has also endorsed the SAFE Plan and S.P.E.A.R. Program.
Youth has been one of the RCMP’s strategic priorities since 1999. The RCMP has developed a number of proactive measures, such as the SAFE Plan, to support young people in becoming mature, law-abiding citizens and to keep them from committing crimes or becoming victims of crime.
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For more information, please contact: RCMP Media Relations at (613) 993-2999.
