‘Respect Me’ campaign launched following increase in abuse towards school crossing patrollers
‘Respect Me’ campaign. (Image supplied by Buckinghamshire County Council)
An increase in abuse towards school crossing patrollers has resulted in the launch of a new ‘Respect Me’ campaign.
The new campaign is being introduced to help protect the small army of lollipop men and women across Buckinghamshire from rising levels of abuse and aggression they receive.
Buckinghamshire County Council’s School Crossing Patrollers team say it’s time to raise awareness about the issues sometimes faced by lollipop men and women and to highlight the importance of their role in the community.
The ‘Respect Me’ project will see patrollers wearing new orange tabards bearing the ‘Respect Me’ slogan to bring focus on the rise in incidents over the past year as well as urging residents to support their local patroller by reporting anything they witness.
An increase incident reports occurred during 2019, with 12 reports recorded in December alone. Cases have included drivers refusing to stop or experiences of aggression or abuse.
The number of incidents recorded during 2019 is as follows :
| Month | Incidents |
| January | 0 |
| February | 1 |
| March | 1 |
| April | 3 |
| May | 1 |
| June | 3 |
| July | 7 |
| August | 0 |
| September | 6 |
| October | 5 |
| N0vember | 8 |
| December | 12 |
There are currently 60 patrollers who devote their time in the morning and afternoon to helping children safely reach school as well as assisting adults across the road.
The longest serving lollipop woman has been crossing pedestrians for 42 years and a 91 year old lollipop man is well loved by the pupils he helps.
The School Crossing Patrollers team are also recruiting for more permanent patrollers as well as relief patrollers who can be available at short notice to stand in if someone is unable to work.
Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation said: ‘It’s important to not only raise the awareness about the fantastic work done by our school crossing patrollers, but also talk about the difficulties they face. Any case of abuse or aggression is one too many in my book, so I’m firmly behind the new campaign.
We hope that communities will continue to support their local patroller and that more people will want to help ensure everyone crosses safely.‘
Further information on the School Crossing Patrollers in Buckinghamshire and current vacancies can be found on the Buckinghamshire County Council website at www.buckscc.gov.uk/scp.
*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire County Council.
