Current Safer Schools Officers (SSOs) and the recent restructuring

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.044924

I note you seek access to the following information:

Regarding the current deployment and roles of Safer Schools Officers (SSOs) within the Metropolitan Police Service.

How many officers are currently designated as Safer Schools Officers.

Are these officers still officially titled as Safer Schools Officers, or have their titles and roles changed following the recent restructuring.

What are the current responsibilities and duties assigned to these officers within the neighbourhood policing teams.

How do these roles differ from their previous responsibilities when stationed full-time in schools.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1- How many officers are currently designated as Safer Schools Officers

As of the 01 May 2025, the role of Safer School Officers was dissolved. A new role Designated Ward Officer - Children and Young People (DWO-CYP) has been created and aligned to neighbourhood policing ward. All 371 former Safer School Officer posts have been transitioned across to deliver this new role profile.

Q2 - Are these officers still officially titled as Safer Schools Officers, or have their titles and roles changed following the recent restructuring.

Please see the response to question 1

Q3 - What are the current responsibilities and duties assigned to these officers within the neighbourhood policing teams.

The following is a summary of key responsibilities and duties for Designated Ward Officer – Children and Young People (DWO-CYP)

The DWO - CYP role is part of the local Community Policing Team; focused on Children & Young People (CYP) and their safety within a specific local area (a ward and/or cluster of wards) in London. The role is central to the New Met for London strategy and the MPS Children’s Strategy, emphasising community-based policing

• Ward-Based Focus: Dedicated to a specific geographic ward and its associated schools (including PRUs and Colleges), becoming an integral part of the community.
• Youth-Centric Crime Prevention & Reduction: Proactively reducing crime and ASB affecting and perpetrated by young people, using problem-solving approaches, intelligence analysis, and community engagement.
• School Liaison: Serving as the primary point of contact for priority schools (including PRUs and Colleges), providing advice, delivering crime prevention presentations, and coordinating Safer Corridors initiatives (safe routes to/from school).
• Partnership Working: Collaborating with other police units, Youth Offending Teams (YOTs), social services, and community partners to address youth related crime, support vulnerable CYP, and promote diversion from the criminal justice system.
• Intelligence Gathering & Offender Management: Using data and community insights to identify emerging crime trends, manage known offenders, and submit actionable intelligence.
• Investigation Support: Assisting with and advising colleagues on, crime investigations involving young people from their assigned schools, adopting a restorative justice approach where appropriate.
• Visibility & Communication: Being visible and communicate regularly with the community. Set meaningful ward priorities with CYP groups and other key stakeholders.

Q4 - How do these roles differ from their previous responsibilities when stationed full-time in schools.

Whilst DWO-CYPs will continue to support school partnerships, they will not be visible officers assigned and stationed to deploy within a designated school. By dissolving the Safer School Officers role they covert to become DWO-CYPs with responsibilities for patrol, problem solving and tackling ASB. A smaller percentage of their time will be nominated to working with schools and their time will be focused on ensuring children are safe as they travel between home and school as opposed to offering a police presence within schools. DWO-CYPs will work the same shift pattern as existing DWOs so readily available to their wider communities across the year and not just during school term time.