Resource Officers Seize 853 Prohibited Items at Georgian Schools

Drugs, a pistol, knives, lighters, alcohol, electric shockers, electronic cigarettes, cards, and pyrotechnics are among the 853 items seized by the Resource Officers at Georgian schools in September-April.

Georgia’s Ministry of Education reports that in total, the officers seized 1 firearm, 56 knives, 13 sharp objects, 3 blunt objects, 25 cards or other gambling objects, 3 explosives or poisonous substances and 26 brass knuckles.

There were also four cases of use of headphones, 294 cases of smoking cigarettes and using lighters, 73 pyrotechnics, 80 electric cigarettes, 1 electric shocker, 33 items for using drugs, 21 cases of taking alcohol into the school area, 20 cases of taking drug substances into the school area.

Last year, the number of items seized from schoolchildren was only 94.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs (MIA) Natia Mezvrishvili says that this year’s statistics prove that the Resource Officers are working more effectively at schools.

“At the beginning of 2018, the Ministry launched the reform of the Office of Resource Officers, which aims to strengthen the Office of Resource Officers and give us the opportunity to take appropriate measures in the field of security in schools. The data is clear evidence that the Office of Resource Officers performs effectively after enacting the law, reveals the relevant violations and, where signs of crime are revealed, the information is provided to the MIA,” said Mezvrishvili.

Within the 'Safe School Program' initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the Office of Resource Officers was created in April 2010.

However, from 2018, a reform was launched which strengthened coordination between the Office of Resource Officers and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

By Thea Morrison