Commissioner Colin Coxall's concept of "community policing'' takes a giant step forward next month when the Police Schools Liaison Programme becomes a reality for pre- and primary schoolers.

It is hoped the scheme, entitled REACH (Resistance Education and Community Help) and over a year in the planning, will help Bermuda's young people to become "responsible, law-abiding citizens''.

Spearheaded by Ch. Insp. Gertrude Barker, who studied two similar schemes on a visit to the UK last summer, REACH has been adapted in close consultation with the Department of Education to deal with problems and contentious issues which confront the local community.

Although the pilot programme will initially be aimed at pre-schoolers and primary school children, it will be extended to middle schools next year and to seniors by September, 1999.

"This is part of my strategy of moving the Bermuda Police Service from a re-active to a pro-active, community-based service,'' explains Mr. Coxall.

"The programme is well established in the UK and has been very successful indeed.'' He said he was able to observe a similar scheme in the Thames Valley for three years and saw levels of juvenile crime reduced.

"That is why I sent Ch. Insp. Barker over to see the scheme first-hand -- and this is the result,'' he said. "I would also like to reiterate that this liaison scheme meshes with my idea of consultative groups being set up throughout Bermuda, so the Country gets directly involved in dealing with problems in particular areas.

"The ultimate aim is that the community runs its own Police Service and the Liaison Programme with our young people is an important part of that strategy.'' Dr. Helen Stemler, curriculum coordinator for restructuring with the Department of Education, who says that Benjamin Franklin's observation that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'' could well be REACH's motto, was involved in a similar liaison scheme for ten years in the US -- DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

"So, between us, we do have a good body of knowledge of what actually works.

I have been working closely with Ch. Insp. Barker and the five police officers chosen to implement the scheme in the schools. You could say I'm their `Girl Friday'! "The lesson plans -- which will be identical throughout the schools and delivered in the presence of class teachers -- and education aids are all in place. As we have been restructuring,'' she says, "we realise we need more partnerships with other organisations. The issues facing youth today are so big that no single agency can face them alone. I believe this scheme will create a very vigorous force in the community to minimise the mistakes that young people tend to make.'' It is essential, she emphasises, for everyone to understand that children cannot become literate, life-long learners and achievers unless they are productive, responsible citizens.

"To put it bluntly, our young people need to know the difference between right and wrong,'' she said. "So the Police will be helping the schools in supporting parents, teachers and churches in strengthening character, emphasising the positive and developing a sense of respect for themselves.

Unless we all work together, the amount of problems like shoplifting, petty theft, stealing bikes and involvement in drugs can and will become overwhelming.'' Dr. Stemler points out that primary school children do respect authority figures such as Policemen, firemen, or teachers: "It is when the hormones set in that they cut the cord and start to assert themselves -- what I call `the purgatory of pubescence'. That, in itself, is no bad thing. Our belief is that with education and involvement in good citizenship and a sense of self-respect nurtured from a young age, teenagers will not succumb to negative peer pressure.'' Police involvement will not be limited to teaching formal lessons. An essential part of the scheme will require officers to be fully involved in the life of "their schools''.

Police get involved in schools As Ch. Insp. Barker explains, this will mean participation in PTAs, sports, physical fitness, health issues and socialising with students and staff during food and fitness breaks.

Four Police officers and one sergeant are currently completing their training for the programme. Significantly, each of the five sections -- Sandys, Warwick, Dellwood, Whitney and St. George's -- are all referred to as `Family'.

The partnership between Police and the Education Department clearly sets out the basic aims of the programme. These include helping young people to understand and accept principles of good citizenship and social responsibility; to foster crime prevention and healthful lifestyles; to develop a broader understanding of the role of the Police; and to offer guidance on the safeguards young people should take to protect themselves and others from dangers in the home, school and community.

The Pre-School programme, entitled `Police Officer Friendly', will concentrate on developing a close rapport with very young students. In Primary 1, `Keeping Myself Safe' will concentrate on home, school, road and water safety. `Respect and Safety' provides the theme for P2, dealing with care of self and others, while in P3, `Respect and Safety' zeroes in on such issues as bullying, cheating, stealing and playing safe. P4, `Keeping Safe in the Community' teaches about building sites, water, road, fire and bicycle safety and the `Rules for Living' in P5, focus shifts to behaviour and laws in the home, school and community. P6 will cover `Police and Rescue Careers' with field trips, Police and rescue careers and `911' issues and, finally, in P7, `Natural Highs' will teach the alternatives to drug abuse, and outdoor and physical education.

Besides conducting lessons, Police will also be training for the middle and senior levels which will deal with such issues as career education, peer mediation and student government, Outward Bound, and education on the laws of the land.

"We have been training the Police in several different approaches to teaching,'' explains Dr. Stemler. "For instance, the idea of `cooperative learning' where a group, rather than an individual works together to solve a problem. Then there is `TPS', which means `think, pair, share' where children think for 30 seconds, pair with a partner, which means every child is taking part in the decision process. This is a simple, but very good way of giving everyone a chance to take part in solving problems.'' Dr. Stemler also points out that in the business world it has been recognised that fundamental changes in policy such as that envisaged by the Police/Education Partnership, take about three years to become effective. "In schools, it takes anywhere from seven to ten years, so it is imperative that we start with four year-olds today so that when that child is 14 or 15 and faced with the pressures of, say, marijuana, the years of education will come home to roost.'' Team member P.c. Grant Tomkins agrees. "None of us is suggesting that this is a quick fix -- the whole idea of this scheme is that, every year, pre-school children will have close contact with a friendly Police officer. It will take time for the benefits to show, but we believe that this is a massive investment for the future.'' IN TOUCH WITH KIDS -- Ch. Insp. Gertrude Barker (centre) heads up REACH, the Police/Schools Liaison Programme which starts next month. Also pictured are teachers in the scheme (left to right): P.c. Nigel Richardson, Sgt. Paul Singh, P.c. Amanda Blakeney, P.c. Grant Tomkins and P.c. Edward Lightbourne.