CAMPUS cops are now an "integral" part of school communities as nearly all Glasgow secondaries have a dedicated police officer.

There are now PCs at 25 out of 30 Glasgow high schools - and their roles are proving vital for building positive relationships between pupils and police.

A report to councillors to be discussed at committee tomorrow details how campus officers play a role in family engagement as well as helping pupils.

Superintendent John McBride said: "Campus officers provide a consistent and positive interaction between young people, the police and the community.

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"They are an integral part of the school and can make a significant contribution to ensuring schools become safer communities.

"Having a dedicated campus officer within a school offers a significant advantage in the development of close and positive working relationships between campus officers, pupils and school staff.

"Such relationships facilitate effective information sharing, individual case progression and problem solving.

"Campus officers are ideally placed to facilitate communication, interaction and understanding between themselves and young people."

As revealed in the Evening Times last February, five new campus police roles were to be paid for by Police Scotland and Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) cash, Scottish Government money given directly to schools to help close the attainment gap.

There are Campus Officers based at 25 schools; most on a direct one-to-one basis with school learning communities, however, a few are ‘shared’ across school learning communities.

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The report details that Campus Officers are not involved in day-to-day discipline in schools; unless, in very rare circumstances, the incident is viewed as being serious or criminal.

PC Rachael Gallagher, based in Rosshall Academy, tells councillors in the report about the work she has done in her school.

She said: "Since being in Rosshall as campus officer, I have introduced the MVP* programme which has seen 12 senior pupils trained and now implementing the programme to the younger children throughout the school.

I have had numerous external agencies attend and deliver inputs including, MAV**, Show Racism the Red Card and Retailers against Crime.

"I have to date trained over 50 children in Level 1 and 2 in Bikeability.

"I have held family engagement nights for parents/guardians of the most at risk or vulnerable children."

This summer PC Gallagher is to hold another summer club in the school for youngsters.

She adds: " [It will be] even bigger than last year, being held in Rosshall again, and targeting the most vulnerable children run by myself and some senior pupils.

"[I will be] holding community forum meetings where I invite local residents to highlight any issues they are experiencing and thereafter addressing them allows residents to feel important and part of the school community.

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"Building relationships with local shops as well where they call the school direct to feedback any issues so I can deal with it directly."

Also in the report PC O’Neil at All Saints RC Secondary School and St Roch's Secondary School details how he has built relationships with pupils.

He said: "I was asked by All Saints staff to assist in a seven-a-side football tournament, there were no available teachers to go therefore the S1 group would have missed out.

"This was a good opportunity to allow the young people to see a different side of the Police and how we can play many different roles.

"There was no uniform or formalities and the young people treated me like a member of staff.

"For relationship building it was excellent, allowing the young people to express themselves on the football pitch and come to me for advice.

"I was also asked by St Roch’s to attend at an overnight retreat to work with Mary’s Meals charity.

"I attended again with no formalities and again it allowed the young people to see many different roles a Campus Cop can play within a school community.

"This was a successful residential retreat with the young people admitting they got to know me better."

Councillor Chris Cunningham, Education, Skills & Early Years Convener, said: "The close partnership working between our schools and Police Scotland is reaping a number of benefits with the campus police officers very much firmly embedded in the school and wider community."