Physical Security

Overview

This overview brings together policies to support schools in identifying and mitigating physical security threats.

Summary

Schools must follow department policies to ensure they are taking reasonable steps to:

• protect the physical safety of students, staff and visitors to school sites
• protect the physical assets of the school from damage and/or theft
• prevent and/or reduce the impact of physical security incidents
• provide an effective response to physical security incidents and emergencies.

Schools must include physical security in their Emergency Management Plan (EMP), which includes response plans covering a range of scenarios such as lockdowns, lockouts and evacuations and ensures readiness through regular drills and reviews. All schools must have an EMP. Refer to the Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning policy.

Schools are encouraged to review Securing your school – an information guide for principals and school leaders (DOCX) (staff login required) for guidance and practical strategies to secure schools and prevent or reduce the occurrence of criminal activities.

Schools are also encouraged conduct a physical security assessment (DOCX) (staff login required) of their premises and incorporate identified risks into their EMP. Using this assessment tool is a simple way to identify threats, which can then be used to inform development of the school’s EMP.

To assist schools when planning for and responding to physical security threats and incidents, the following policies have been grouped by threat type.

Unwelcome visitors

Individuals who attempt to access the school without prior approval or who, despite initially having a legitimate reason to be on-site, engage in inappropriate behaviour or fail to comply with school policies.

Policies

• CCTV in Schools – Installation and Management
• Crime Prevention in Schools
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Police – Department Protocol on Reporting Criminal Activity
• School Community Safety Orders
• Visitors in School

Theft and vandalism

Criminal activities that result in loss of property or damage to school facilities.

Policies

• CCTV in Schools – Installation and Management
• Crime Prevention in Schools
• Graffiti – Prevention and Management
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Police – Department Protocol on Reporting Criminal Activity
• Risk Management – Schools

Burglary and break-ins

Unlawful entry into school buildings with the intent to steal or cause damage.

Policies

• Crime Prevention in Schools
• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Insurance for Schools
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Police – Department Protocol on Reporting Criminal Activity
• Risk Management – Schools

Fire and arson

Deliberate or accidental fires that threaten the safety of the school and its occupants.

Policies

• Crime Prevention in Schools
• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Police – Department Protocol on Reporting Criminal Activity

Absconding students

Students leaving the school premises without permission, potentially putting themselves or others at risk.

Policies

• Behaviour – Students
• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Restraint and Seclusion
• Students Absconding or Going Missing from School

Trespassing

Individuals without a connection to the school entering the school grounds without authorisation. This could lead to safety concerns, particularly those who have been explicitly directed to leave or are subject to a Trespass Warning Notice.

Policies

• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Risk Management – Schools
• Trespass

Drug and substance abuse

Use or distribution of illegal substances on school property, potentially harming students and staff.

Policies

• Alcohol at School Events
• Alcohol and Other Drugs – Students
• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)

Weapons

The possession of firearms or other prohibited weapons that could lead to violence or harm.

Policies

• Crime Prevention in Schools
• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Police – Department Protocol on Reporting Criminal Activity
• Weapons and Other Harmful Items – Banning, Searching and Seizing

Natural disasters (fires and floods)

Environmental events that may cause physical damage to the school or threaten the safety of its occupants.

Policies

• Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness
• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Shelter-in-Place Buildings

Anonymous threats to the school

Threats received through non-specific or anonymous sources, raising concerns about potential harm or danger.

Policies

• Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies)
• Shelter-in-Place Buildings

Contact

For general queries or feedback about this policy, contact the Policy and Intelligence Unit at emergency.management@education.vic.gov.au

For assistance with operational queries, contact the Security Unit at school.security@education.vic.gov.au or on 03 7022 0269.

To report and seek assistance for an incident, contact the Support and Operations Centre (ISOC) on 1800 126 126.

Guidance

There is no further guidance for this topic. For more information, refer to the Resources tab.

Resources

• Securing your school – an information guide for principals and school leaders (DOCX) (staff login required) – provides guidance and strategies to help keep schools secure through the prevention of criminal activities such as unwelcome visitors, graffiti, vandalism, burglary and arson
• Physical security assessment template (DOCX) (staff login required)
• Evacuation diagram template (PPTX) – provides a sample layout and icons to assist schools in developing their evacuation diagrams
• Evacuation diagram checklist (DOCX) – to assist schools in developing their evacuation diagrams in line with relevant standards
• Bomb threat checklist (DOCX) (staff login required)
• Managing incidents in my school – poster (PDF) (staff login required) – can be displayed at school
• Risk management process for schools pocket guide (PDF)