Armed guards at Yeshivah
YESHIVAH and Beth Rivkah Colleges have become the latest Jewish schools in Melbourne to employ armed guards.
YESHIVAH and Beth Rivkah Colleges have become the latest Jewish schools in Melbourne to employ armed guards.
The schools’ Committee of Management told parents and staff in an email on Monday that armed personnel would be protecting their campuses after a thorough investigation of various factors and as part of an ongoing assessment of the security needs of the community.
“After careful consideration and in consultation with the Community Security Group (CSG), Victoria Police and other security experts, the Committee of Management has taken the decision to place armed guards at our Centre,” the email to parents said.
“We have also closely studied the security arrangements already in place at all of Sydney’s Jewish day schools and other communal institutions, which have included armed guards for many years.”
The AJN understands that the armed guards will start working at the school within days.
Jewish schools and institutions in Sydney have had armed guards for more than 20 years, but it was only two months ago that a Jewish school in Melbourne, Mount Scopus Memorial College, adopted the policy.
CSG Victoria CEO Ricky Pearl said the community can be assured that the advice given to Jewish schools “does not relate to any particular threat, but rather to the changed security climate in Australia and around the world”.
He said CSG Victoria is working with each Jewish organisation individually to ensure the safety of all members of the community.
“We are constantly reviewing the security arrangements at all community installations and are working with each organisation to assess their needs.”
The AJN understands that several other Jewish schools in Melbourne are still actively considering a decision to put in armed guards and that an announcement is imminent from at least one other school.
JOSHUA LEVI
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