The police are investigating a confrontation with students from Glen Innes High School.
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In the high-tension incident, teenage girls were warned by officers that they would be arrested. It appears the students were ordered by the police to sit down along the base of a wall outside the school.
The police were called after trouble in the school resulted in a “lock-down” which the NSW Department of Education said was initiated to ensure students’ safety”.
After the “lock-down” of the school, some girls appear to have left the premises. The police were called and a confrontation happened across the road from the school.
One of the girls videoed the confrontation and put the footage on Facebook. It’s been re-posted on the page of an Aboriginal social media site.
In the video, police officers tell the teenage girls that they are under arrest.
One girl says she can’t be arrested because she’s under 16. The officer says that if they don’t get in the truck, they will be put in “head first”.
When the officers (apparently, a male and female one) first arrived, they were met by about 10 or 15 girls.
The confrontation between police and girls was initially calm. Voices weren’t raised (or not in the section which was videoed). At one stage, an adult voice says: “Just follow the officer’s instructions, please”.
One of the girls appears to swear and the officer then says: “You’re getting one for swearing as well”.
The incident (as it was videoed) gets more intense with a voice, apparently of a police officer, saying: “You’re all under arrest”.
The girls are told: “Sit down along the fence. Sit down. Now.”
It’s not clear what then happened. On one account, a girl was compelled to sit. She is then seen crying.
A spokesman for the police said that the “investigation into the entire incident is well underway”.
On one account from a person close to the events, some girls had previously been involved in confrontations with other students in the school. The school was then “locked down”, a situation usually connected with serious incidents like attacks by outsiders.
A witness said girls were going round the school picking on other students. There were complaints of bullying. An order was made that all students should gather inside and doors be locked.
After that, the melee appears to have left the school premises and the police were called.
A statement from the NSW Department of Education said:
- “Students and staff are commended for their response to the lockdown safety procedure that was called last week.
- The safety procedure was initiated to ensure students’ safety during an emerging issue.
- The prompt response enabled staff manage the issue and students were safe at all times.
- Lockdowns are one of a number of safety procedures rehearsed regularly by public schools.
- NSW public schools, including Glen Innes High, have a zero tolerance policy to violence, bullying and other aggressive behaviour.
- Student wellbeing is the highest priority in all public schools, so when any behaviour appears to compromise the wellbeing of others a school will respond and students responsible will be disciplined according to the school’s discipline code, which is developed in consultation with the school community.
- When behaviour may be illegal, or students choose to comply with the school’s direction, police may be notified and the school will co-operate fully, including supporting any action they consider necessary.
- The Department of Education has a well-established complaints procedure which is available to anyone with a concern about any decision.”
