As Queensland’s state schools prepare for the summer break, Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, is urging community members to stay vigilant as part of the successful school security strategy.

Carolyn Male MP said community awareness was proving to be a very effective tool to protect school property from vandalism and burglary.

“Community members have been crucial in reducing the cost of insurance claims for break and enters and vandalism at state schools in the past 12 months by 15 per cent,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“The School Watch Hotline receives, on average, 70 calls a month from community members reporting suspicious activities in school grounds, which often leads to damage to school property being minimised.”

“In August three youths were discovered on the grounds of a State High School in Brisbane after a neighbour reported loud noises coming from the school.”

“Whilst 12 windows were broken, the call to the School Watch number helped prevent further damage.”

“I thank these community-minded people for contacting the hotline and encourage others to do the same if they notice anything suspicious”.

“The hotline number 13 17 88 operates 24 hours a day.”

Carolyn Male MP said other school security measures included intruder detection devices and alarms, and surveillance by police, State Government and private security officers.

“It is our responsibility to do our very best to protect the state school facilities which are often targeted by would-be thieves, vandals and arsonists during the extended Christmas break.”

State schools will be closed for more than six weeks from Friday, December 11, 2009, to Wednesday, January 27, 2010.