Step 1: Always contact the police after an online threat

If a threatening email arrives at school, the very first step is to contact the police. The school leadership must immediately report the threat. Depending on the nature of the threat, you can do this by calling the emergency dispatch centre via 112 or by contacting the school’s designated police liaison officer directly. You do this to receive advice on how to proceed. In all cases, you should report a threat to the police, even if you know that another school has already filed a report.

Step 2: Consider whether or not to close the school

In most cases, it is unknown where the threat originates. That is why we always advise taking such a threat seriously. Of course, you hope that the police will conclude that there is no concrete threat and that the school does not need to close. Even then, however, things can still be difficult for the school leadership. What do you do about the unrest and uncertainty among teachers, parents and students? You want to address that as well. If it helps to reduce the unrest, it is understandable that the school leadership decides to keep the school doors closed for a while.

Step 3: Assess whether you need to activate the crisis team

Next, the school leadership must consider whether to activate the crisis team, or the people appointed by the school for this purpose. Communicating with parents, students, teachers and other staff is very important, as is following existing crisis plans.

Communication and transparency are very important in situations like these. Therefore, provide as much factual information as possible and be open. For example: “We have been advised to temporarily close the school because of a threat.” It is also important to offer each other support. Support your colleagues, students and parents. If the school is closed, you can also choose to hold an online meeting.

You are not on your own

Safety is first and foremost the responsibility of schools themselves, but that does not mean they are completely on their own. There are situations in which a school can or even must work with other parties, such as the police, the Confidentiality Inspectorate, and therefore School & Veiligheid as well. This applies not only to possible criminal offences, but also to prevention.

What School & Veiligheid can do for you

As an education professional, you can contact School & Veiligheid if you would like advice or information on how to deal with this at school. Questions may include: What should we communicate and what should we not communicate? And who should we or should we not inform? What do we do with questions from the press? How can we prevent rumours from spreading on social media? The staff of the School & Veiligheid Advice Centre can provide advice based on the situation.

In a crisis situation, where the daily routine at school has been disrupted, one of the School & Veiligheid emergency advisers can be deployed. This person helps restore the normal daily school routine as quickly as possible.

Preventive action: get your protocols in order during peacetime

There is no single protocol for all schools. However, a school can have a crisis plan that includes a step-by-step procedure. Different scenarios can be included based on risks that depend on the school and the situation. This makes it clear to everyone within the school who should do what in each situation, and whether and when other parties should be involved. Scenarios you can prepare for:

  • It is unclear whether or not there is a threat.
  • The level of threat is uncertain.
  • The level of threat is low.
  • The level of threat is serious / acute.

School & Veiligheid advises schools to get these scenarios in order during ‘peacetime’. Fortunately, we see that this is usually the case. However, maintaining the protocols requires effort to ensure that all those involved are familiar with them. Make time for that as well.

As part of its preventive work, School & Veiligheid developed the Not-Quite-Right Tool. Its purpose is to bring pieces of the puzzle together by exchanging information and comparing observations and interpretations. This creates a more complete picture of a young person. Establishing good contact with your students and creating a positive school climate in which you can also address one another when things are not going well: that is your foundation.