Through Metropolitan editorial staff
Published on
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Since Monday April 26, the City of Montpellier experimented a new device to reinforce Security pendant school entrances and exits of Montpellier, with the establishment of School Protection Officers (APE). First, three school groups in Montpellier will benefit from this human presence, allowing schoolchildren to cross the road in complete safety. From the start of September, these agents will be present near 12 school groups, so that the way to school becomes once again a protected space and a pleasant moment for families.
For a more peaceful climate
Employed by the City, these School Protection Officers fulfill a different mission from those performed by the officers responsible for the surveillance of the public highway. It will consist above all in supporting families and restoring a peaceful school climate. Through this human presence, a vector of links between the entire educational community, the objective is to restore the surroundings of schools to a convivial character, conducive to exchanges between families and children.
“Securing the journey for schoolchildren is one of the priorities of the municipal team. We want to build a city at the height of children ”explains Michaël Delafosse. “The way to school, a place of all imaginations, must once again become a protected and pleasant space for families, free from cars and the feeling of insecurity. The launch of the system for school protection officers marks a first concrete action, which will be supplemented by several important measures in this mandate ”thus completes the mayor of Montpellier.
However, these officers are not responsible for violence in the vicinity of schools and road incivility, which remain the responsibility of the municipal police, with whom they can however easily be in contact.
Easily identifiable
In order to be quickly recognized by motorists and students, the agents on duty will be equipped with a fluorescent vest, a poncho in case of rain, a “Stop School” placard, a lamp and A whistle. In compliance with the highway code, it is at the APE signal, positioned in the middle of the road, that pedestrians can cross safely.
At the entrance of the students, it will be positioned on the sidewalk opposite the establishment, for the exit, conversely, it will be present on the sidewalk, adjacent to the establishment. School protection officers will be on site from 7.45 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. and from 4.15 p.m. to 5.45 p.m. in the afternoon. These times are part of the experiment and may change following the evaluation that will be made of them.
A rise in power
Three sites have benefited from the establishment of school protection officers, a system adopted during the City Council of November 30. Thus, the school groups Chaplin / Pottier Sibelus (Hospitals-Faculties district), Louise Michel / Paul Painlevé (Port-Marianne district) each have an agent positioned to ensure the journey of the pupils. The school group made up of Jacques Brel / Simone Signoret schools and Gérard Philipe college, located near avenue Albert Dubout, whose traffic has already been calmed through a series of improvements, also benefits from this system. .
These first three sites selected will provide feedback on the location of agents, their equipment, their role and their links with all the partners, in order to effectively ensure the ramp-up of the system: at the start of the September 2021 school year. , 12 school groups will then be concerned.
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