Nothing sacred for criminals

One sexual offence and seven offences against the person were recorded by the PSNI as having occurred at, or near, Limavady High School between September 2009 and February 2010, for example.

And six offences against the person were recorded at, or near Lisneal College; three were recorded at, or near Oakgrove Integrated College; and three were recorded at, or near Termoncanice Primary School during the same period. The information was released by the PSNI in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Offences against the person were also reported at Castlederg High School, Limavady Central Primary School, St Brigid’s High School, St Joseph’s Secondary School, St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College, Claudy and Strabane High School.

Fortunately no-one tried to commit terrorist offences in any schools in Londonderry, Limavady or Strabane as there are no records of offences against the state here since September 2009 but elsewhere in Northern Ireland there were 23 instances of individuals breaching anti-terrorist legislation.

By the far the most common offences at schools here were burglary, criminal damage and theft.

Burglaries were reported at Ardstraw PS, Strabane, Artigarvan, PS, Strabane, Foyle and Londonderry College (3), Holy Family PS, Immaculate Conception College, Limavady Grammar, Model PS (2), Rosemount PS (3), St Brigid’s PS (2), St Cecilia’s College (2), St Columba’s PS, St John’s PS, St Joseph’s Secondary School, St Mary’s Boys’ PS, Strabane, St Mary’s Girl’s PS (2), St Mary’s College, St Patrick’s PS (2), Strabane PS, Strabane Grammar and Thornhill College.

And PSNI have records of criminal damage having recently occurred at Artigarvan PS, Castlederg PS, Thornhill College, Drumachose PS (2), Ebrington PS (2),

Foyleview School, Glasvey Special School, Good Shepherd PS (2), Holychild PS, Holy Cross College (2), Immaculate Conception College, Limavady High School playing pitches, Termoncanice PS, Rosemount PS, St Anne’s PS, St Canice’s PS, St Eugene’s PS, St Joseph’s Secondary School, St Mary’s Boys PS (2), St Mary’s Girls’ PS, St Mary’s High School, Limavady, St Paul’s PS (2), St Peter’s High School, Strabane High School (2) and Strabane Grammar (2).

There were also thefts reported at Foyle and Londonderry College, St Columb’s College (4), Lenamore PS, Limavady Central PS, Limavady Grammar, Limavady High School (3), St Mary’s Girls, Strabane, St Mary’s High School, Limavady, and St Mary’s PS, Claudy.

Across Northern Ireland there was a staggering total of 1,374 crimes recorded at schools between September 2009 and February 2011.

The PSNI’s Central Statistic Unit provided the information for offences that have taken place at, or near, a school.

Police point out that the incidents may not necessarily have occurred on school premises and that they may have occurred outside school hours including weekends and holidays and may not necessarily have involved pupils or staff.