SIBU: The police here assure parents and teachers they will try not to arrest students in school uniform when they are handling cases involving them.

Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday after a dialogue between them and the Education Department at SMK Bandar Sibu, the local police chief, ACP Shafie Ismail, said it was their duty to protect minors.

“We do not want students to be branded as criminals by their schoolmates after they see us arresting them.

“We also do not want their families and schools to be shamed when we need to take students in for investigation.”

He said this was also their moral duty nationwide in response to an order from their Bukit Aman headquarters.

Shafie also gave an assurance that they would quickly process students taken in for questioning before releasing them.

“We shall not hold students in the police station longer than necessary.”

Only when there was a need, he said, would they release them on police bail.

“Otherwise, they will be released unconditionally after questioning.”

On problems with students in school, he said they were mostly not criminal in nature.

“Their problems are mainly disciplinary and our role is to counsel them with the help of the schools and their parents.”

He said the problems with students were mainly confined to smoking, skipping classes, loitering in town and not getting along with their teachers.

The police chief was aware that some teachers were strict, so he hoped parents and students would be appreciative as it was a way to mould the students.

He felt if students were appropriately caned for disciplinary offences, parents should see it in a positive light.

“The teachers are doing it for the good of the students.”

He was disappointed with some parents who brought hooligans to school to settle minor problems.

On traffic congestion after class, he said the police were helping the schools.

“Although our manpower is limited, we shall try to do our best.”

He said schools could request and suggest ways to improve the situation and matters that the police could do to serve them better.

“There is a need between the schools and the police for a teamwork for the good of the students.”