Finland’s National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero feels the country would benefit from a school police system.
In Paatero’s view the police and the school system cooperate far too little in today’s society.
In an interview with the Turun Sanomat daily and the Väli-Suomi network of regional newspapers, Paatero reckons that crimes could be prevented if the schools and the police knew each other better.
“Specific clusters of schools could have their own police. The schools would know who to contact, and the police would have a general idea of the goings-on in the schools”, Paatero outlines.
Chairman Erkki Kangasniemi of the Trade Union of Education in Finland does not dismiss the suggestion outright. Kangasniemi points out, however, that if there is desire to strengthen cooperation between the police and the schools, time needs to be set aside for doing so.
