Community pulls together to support Bamber Bridge SEN school targeted by criminals

The exterior of the school Pic: The Coppice School — The school was subjected to regular vandalism for a period last year Pic: The Coppice School

The South Ribble Police community has pulled together to help keep a Bamber Bridge school safe after it was targeted by criminals.

The Coppice School, a community special educational needs school, has over 60 pupils on roll and caters for children between the ages of 2 and 19.

Between September and December last year, it was the target of a spate of vandalism causing damage of up to £17,000.

South Ribble Police has since worked closely with the school, South Ribble Council and other partners to address the issue.

Officers, along with the head teacher at The Coppice School, visited local schools and talked to the young people during assemblies, highlighting the damage caused and the impact it had on its community.

Through funding from LANPAC, the school have been able to purchase a new CCTV system and enhance its security measures.

Some of the damage at The Coppice School Pic: South Ribble Police

Mrs Seddon, headteacher at The Coppice, said: “We are incredibly humbled by the overall response and help provided by South Ribble Police, LANPAC, parents of pupils and our wider community.

“It was a very unsettling time for our children when the damage caused put our hydrotherapy pool out of action.

“These new security measures mean that we can continue to provide the routine and structure that our children thrive in.”

Sergeant Paul Harrison said: “We have worked closely with the school and partner agencies to combat the damage that has been done at The Coppice School.

“A lot of time and effort has gone into ensuring that no further incidents have occurred, and we will continue to take action against anyone who commits these offences.”