School Watch

School Watch is the newest unit in the Tallinn Municipal Police Department. At first, in 2009 there was a school watch project focused on the work with children at school. Now there are 6 officials in the unit to supervise how the law, which regulates the usage of tobacco and alcoholic beverages, is followed on the school grounds and in the places popular among the young.

The preventive work is very important. The unit started with the lessons for both children and their teachers on the harmfulness of smoking, usage of alcoholic beverages and other opiates.

In Estonia it is prohibited to use tobacco and alcoholic beverages for the under-age. Although it is forbidden to smoke in public institutions since 2009, there is still a big problem with smoking on the school grounds. Here the adults have an important role. During the supervision the attention is mainly put on the under-age smoking problem. The unit started with the lessons for both children and their teachers on the harmfulness of smoking, usage of alcoholic beverages and other opiates. Last year one new topic was snus and its harmfulness. Snus is a new popular opiate among the Estonian youth. Selling snus is prohibited in Estonia, but it is legal in Sweden. Sothrough Sweden snus reaches Estonia. Snus is easy to use, it does not leave betraying smell on the cloths and hands and many adults, including teachers, do not discover its usage. During the preventive work the parents were also asked to take part in various lessons. Many of them are not aware of the newest opiates on the market. Thus, their hidden harmful impact on health is not common.

Additionally, the School Watch keeps eye on the kiosks near the schools. Unfortunately, the experience shows that the tobacco and alcoholic beverages are sold to the under-age which should be punished.

Many headmasters appreciate the School Watch Unit. Thanks to its work the school grounds have become a better place for the young. Starting from this school year four schools in Tallinn have the supervision unit, where MPD officials are watching over public order. Tallinn MPD wishes that all schools could be safe and pleasant environment for all children to grow and learn.