NSW:Brogden says he's station police officers at schools

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NSW:Brogden says he's station police officers at schools

SYDNEY, April 3 AAP - Police officers would be stationed at 10 NSW schools on a trialbasis to help combat gang related violence and drugs under a coalition policy announcedtoday.

The program would involve a police officer patrolling schools identified by the Departmentof School Education and the police.

Unveiling the details in Sydney's west, opposition leader John Brodgen said the movewas in response to rising violence in schools.

Last week, more than 30 youths clashed outside a southern Sydney high school.

Machetes, knives and steel poles were used in the street battle which left four teenagerswounded, two of them seriously.

Mr Brodgen said similar schemes were already operating successfully in the NorthernTerritory, Western Australia and Queensland.

"If elected next year we will implement a trial program of 10 police in 10 schoolsacross NSW ... to keep the drugs and the knives and the gangs out," he told reporters.

"The events of last week in Sydney make it clear that there are gangs in our schoolsand that violence is spilling over into our communities."

Mr Brogden said the presence of police officers on school grounds would also buildtrust between students and officers.

NSW opposition education spokeswoman Patricia Forsythe said she had been inundatedwith letters from concerned parents over the safety of their children.

"This isn't something new and radical ... this is about providing safe schools," she said.

The NSW opposition estimated the cost of an initial trial would be $100,000.

It called on the state government to immediately introduce the scheme.

AAP ls/rp/arb/bwl

KEYWORD: BRAWL BROGDEN