Manor Lakes P-12 principal in dragging video cleared by cops
Police have dropped their investigation into a principal who was captured on video dragging a student along the ground. It comes as dozens of principals slam the ‘knee jerk’ reaction that saw him stood down.
Education
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Police have dropped their investigation into a principal who was captured in footage dragging a student along the ground.
Steve Warner was immediately stood down as executive principal of Manor Lakes P-12 College after a video showing him dragging a student by the arm was shared on social media.
The Herald Sun has confirmed that Victoria Police is no longer investigating the January 31 incident as no criminal offence had been detected.
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Police have dropped the matter and referred it to the Department of Education (DET).
Mr Warner has had his duties reassigned to the DETs regional office as the department’s independent investigation continues.
Almost 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for Mr Warner’s reinstatement.
Meanwhile, principals have expressed disappointment over Education Minister James Merlino’s reaction before the investigation was complete.
The day the footage emerged, Mr Merlino said as education minister and as a parent, the video left him “appalled and concerned”.
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His reaction, including the immediate standing down of Mr Warner, has been criticised by dozens of principals as a “kneejerk” response.
“I have no doubt that this will make the position of principal far less appetising for anyone aspiring to lead a school,” one principal said.
A DET spokeswoman said there had been a commitment to complete their investigation “in the coming weeks”.
“An independent investigation into this matter is currently under way,” she said.
“In accordance with established processes, the principal will not be at the school while the investigation is being conducted.”
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