Launch of School Resource Officer (SRO) Pilot Project | Western Cape Government

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Launch of School Resource Officer (SRO) Pilot Project

31 May 2013

In 2012, the WCED and the City of Cape Town officially launched a new joint pilot project – the SRO project. A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a sworn Metro Police officer assigned to a school on a long-term basis to help make our schools safe learning environments.

The pilot is for a period of 12 months with six participating schools from the Cape Town Metropole. SRO officers were placed in schools at the start of the 2013 school year.

To further equip the SROs, each SRO officer was required to complete a training programme by the USA-based National Association of School Resource Officers. NASRO is a leading school based law-enforcement organisation which trains and educates school resource officers.

The course also ensures that school resource officers maintain an understanding of current school safety issues and trends from around the world.

The WCED are delighted to have benefited from international best practice in this regard.

The SROs have now completed two training programmes by NASRO. The first programme was in September 2012, where officers received a basic certificate by NASRO. In May 2013, the SRO officers participated in the second training programme – the advanced and management training programme. 

This morning, Minister Grant, Alderman JP Smith and the Consulate General of the USA, Ms Barks-Ruggles, presented eight SRO's with certificates for completing the NASRO training course.

Media Enquiries: 

Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson for Minister Grant
Tel: 021 467 2377
Cell: 072 7241422
Fax: 021 425 3616
E-mail: Bronagh.casey@westerncape.gov.za