Melbourne’s Mount Scopus Memorial College has become the first school in Victoria to employ armed security guards.
The school is the largest Jewish day school in Victoria and the move to employ armed guards takes effect this week.
School principal Rabbi James Kennard told J-Wire: “Security at Mount Scopus Memorial College is under constant review, and we aim to follow best practice at all times. For this reason we have decided that our security needs are best met by the introduction of armed guards at our campuses, following the example of Jewish Colleges and Institutions in Sydney who have acted in this way for over twenty years.
This enhancement of the guards’ equipment reflects the heightened security levels now in place across Australia and worldwide, and is not in response to any particular threat to the College. In taking this decision we have consulted widely, including with Victoria Police.
Our foremost priority remains the safety of our students and staff.
In line with standard security protocols, we will be making no further comment on our operational procedures.”
Hmm.
Perhaps there is increasing threats from those Buddhists, or Hindus, or Christians, or Sikhs, or maybe it’s the same threat faced by Jewish schools across Europe?