Students of some 50 schools nationwide started the new academic year with more than just a new intake of students, as police officers assumed their new roles at the compounds as part of a programme to combat school violence and indiscipline. But visiting some of the selected schools on September 8, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro had a strong warning for parents.

"If you can recall, at my inauguration, I made particular statements that if parents can't control their children, the TTPS will confine them. It's not far off that we now have police officers in schools ready to respond to those immediate threats to our children who seek to have that higher education and learning.

"So, just a further warning to the parents out there, keep your children in check. The well-behaved children who are here for that particular purpose of getting an education have no reason to fear from my officers. It's those errant ones who want to bring disruption to the education facility and the system; those are the ones who have to be fearful."