Assaults, drugs, weapons: NSW public, private schools record spike in police call-outs

NSW public and private schools have recorded a spike in violent and anti-social incidents, with data laying bare just how often teachers are forced to call in the cops.

Police have been called to schools across the state almost 20,000 times in the last year, including for serious sexual incidents and violence involving pistols, screwdrivers and swords.

The rising tide of school violence in NSW schools has been laid bare in a dossier released by police minister Yasmine Catley – and obtained exclusively by The Daily Telegraph - which showed an average of 53 call-outs per day for police.

The figures include three reports of terrorism.

Police were called to NSW schools more than 19,000 times in the 12 months to November 1, 2023.

Teachers and youth mental health advocates have pointed the finger at increasing anxiety and social deterioration among students. University of NSW professor of special education Therese Cumming said: “During Covid, a lot of young people lost the ability to socialise and have become so used to communicating online some have a really difficult time in person – they find it traumatic.”

The figures reveal that during the 12 month period to November 2023 there were a total of 19,256 incidents that involved police intervention. They included 2821 reports of assault, 1190 incidents of malicious damage and 856 call-outs for break and enter.

The figures show there was a large number of weapon incidents including 66 involving a knife, sword, scissors or screwdriver, seven involving a pistol or a shotgun, and 31 physical incidents involving fists or feet.

There were 685 sexual touching incidents reported on school grounds – a rate of more than 13 incidents per week and a further 411 sexual assault incidents, at a rate of almost eight per week.

Police were also called to schools to respond to 479 reports of stealing, 282 drug detection incidents, 67 incidents involving fire and 29 stolen vehicles.

Separate figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics shows there has been a steady increase in criminal incidents occurring on school grounds during the latest two annual reporting periods.

The figures include a 34 per cent increase in assaults on school grounds between 2021 and 2022 and 116 per cent increase in sexual offences over the same period. Incidents of assault and sexual offences are also higher than pre-pandemic levels.

NSW Secondary Principals’ Council president Craig Petersen said statewide teacher shortages and an increased reliance on casual teachers have added to the disruption felt by students.

“We’ve seen a decline in social skills in a lot of our students, particularly in the younger years of high school,” he said.

A new student behaviour policy comes into force this year.

“Students need to have clear expectations of what is appropriate and the consequences because inconsistency breeds misbehaviour.

“When students have the same teacher they know what the rules and consequences are, but that becomes more complex when more classes are being taught by casuals.”

The figures come as the NSW Government prepares to roll out a new ‘student behaviour policy’ across the state’s public school system that includes setting no limit on how many times a school can suspend a student.

UNSW professor Therese Cumming said social anxiety can lead to behavioural issues.

The policy, which comes into force from the first day of term this year, is aimed at promoting safe student behaviour and lists incidents such as vaping and cyber-bullying among specific grounds for suspension.

Schools have recorded an increase in some offences including assault over the last two years.

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said schools across the state work closely with NSW Police when matters require police assistance.

“Even one incident is too many, and we have measures and support in place to respond,” the spokesman said.

The figures, released in parliament, do not indicate what time of day incidents occurred on school grounds and may include incidents after school hours.

In addition to the call outs, police were called out to a further 11,000 school inspections to carry out general patrols on school grounds, usually after hours.