The Youth Crime Action Plan, published on 15 July, announced that every school that wants one should be able to be part of an SSP, subject to local resources.
We are working with the Home Office and ACPO on a survey of current Safer School Partnership (SSP) provision that will provide an up to date picture in terms of scale, objectives and the outcomes of projects. The results of the survey will help inform and drive the future development of SSP provision.
The survey forms part of a wider strategy to share good practice and encourage local partners to come together which we are taking forward in a series of conferences beginning in November. The conferences will promote the benefits of SSPs and explore more widely issues around safety in schools. The audit and conferences will inform the new guidance for practitioners, which we expect to publish early next year.
Additional funding for SSPs was included in the extra £3 million for the 10 police forces involved in the Tackling Knives Action Programme, announced by the Home Secretary on 21 October.
We are not promoting SSPs in Wales. The Welsh Assembly and Welsh police forces have set up a programme, the All-Wales School Liaison Core Programme that is broadly similar to SSPS.