St. Elizabeth Police Urge Students to Settle Disputes Without Violence

St. Elizabeth’s police chief is appealing to students to resolve disagreements before they escalate, as concern grows over violent incidents involving young people.

Superintendent Coleridge Minto delivered the message at BB Coke High School during the police’s annual safe school tour, where recent clashes among students were a major focus. He encouraged youngsters to speak through conflicts instead of turning to physical confrontations.

Minto told students that when they cannot settle a dispute directly with another person, they should seek help from trusted adults at school. He pointed to deans of discipline, form teachers and other adults as persons students can approach before a matter becomes dangerous.

The senior policeman also warned against taking weapons or harmful objects to school, noting that items such as ice picks and other implements can cause serious injury. He stressed that violence brings no benefit and said the police want students to enjoy their childhood while preparing for productive futures, whether in athletics, policing, medicine, law, nursing or other fields.

With the summer break about a month away, Minto also urged students to be cautious around water. He advised them to visit pools, rivers or the sea only with proper adult supervision, lifeguard support and safe arrangements in place, so they can enjoy the holidays and return safely to school, university or skills training in September.

Road safety was also part of his warning, following the recent injury of a student who was hit by a vehicle after crossing the road unsafely. Minto cautioned students not to dart from behind vehicles or cross wherever they choose, urging them instead to use pedestrian crossings and traffic signals, including the marked crossing in the town centre.