Richmond West Primary School security beefed up amid escalating crime and drug use near injecting room

After a spate of shocking incidents, the school near Richmond’s injecting room has taken radical measures to keep kids safe.

Security will be beefed up at a school nearby Richmond’s controversial injecting room. Picture: Jason Edwards

Security will be beefed up at a school nearby Richmond’s controversial injecting room amid escalating crime and drug use.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal a new sophisticated security system will be installed at Richmond West Primary School including an electronic lock and video intercom system for the school’s inner pedestrian gate and electronic security on the school’s front reception doors.

It comes after a spate of shocking incidents revealed by the Herald Sun last month including a man being found dead near the school, forcing the school authorities to direct students and parents away from a main entrance.

It was also revealed the school had been placed into lockdown twice in less than a week.

Parents and residents have told the Sunday Herald Sun they welcome the new security measures, but say the injecting room needs to be “urgently moved”.

Parent Tina, whose children attend the school, said she was fed up with ongoing crime and drug use in the area.

“I think additional security measures are great, but there is still a huge problem with drug users and dealers who hang around near the injecting room,” she said.

“Parents don’t feel their children are safe, we are still finding needles everywhere – our children are still finding needles everywhere.

A man was arrested inside Rigmond primary school grounds allegedly with drugs and a knife last month. Picture: Jason Edwards

“The school being placed into lockdown and everything that happened last month just shows the injecting room needs to be urgently moved out of the area.”

Another local, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, said she was fed up with anti-social behaviour near the school grounds and in residential streets.

“We’ve just had enough, the crime and drug use has become worse since the injecting room opened,” she said.
“Families are taking their children out of the school and people are moving out of the area because it’s unsafe.

“Schoolchildren are confronted with passed out drug users and needles every day – it’s just crazy that their safety wasn’t considered to begin with.”

A Department of Education spokesman the safety and wellbeing of wellbeing of students, staff and the school community was the department’s top priority.

“As with all schools, security arrangements are constantly under review. As part of this review it has been determined that security upgrades will be made at the school, beginning over the Easter school holidays,” the spokesman said.

The security upgrades are expected to be completed in early Term 2.

Last month, parents and residents held an emotional meeting at the All Nation’s Hotel, saying they were fed up with problems stemming from the controversial injecting room, demanding it be moved away from the school.