The protection of the school population needs to be carefully distinguished from the related problem of providing protection to school buildings and equipment which may be at risk of vandalism, theft or fire-raising. Some measures may be of greater significance for the latter than for the former. In allocating scarce resources it is necessary to be clear as to the object of what is proposed and the value of what it can achieve. In considering any particular measure it is clearly necessary to consider not merely whether and to what extent it would be practicable and effective but also whether it would be acceptable. The point has often been made that schools should be welcoming places.
Many schools represent a community facility, receiving adults for evening classes and recreation.
It would be unacceptable to carry measures to the point where schools were turned into fortresses. At some point a balance has to be struck. 10.8 Whatever measures are to be taken it is unrealistic to expect that the risk of a violent intruder gaining access to a school can be eliminated. All that can be done is to take whatever measures are reasonably practicable. Protection from violence through the management of safety 10.9 I am in no doubt that a solution to the problem of protection should be tackled through the application of sound principles of safety management.