Dear Parents,
Further to the decision I took last week, I feel that I should now offer slightly more information, and also comment upon the security measures at the school.
Firstly, the decision I took last week was after receiving news that there was a nation-wide security alert and a specific alert for Phuket. I received this information from several sources early on Friday morning. My response was to get confirmation that this was indeed the case, and within an hour I held a meeting with the Chief of Police for the Koh Kaew District. He confirmed that the police in Phuket were responding to the same information and were treating the reports seriously until further information was made available. He immediately stepped up the police presence around the school.
The embassies were asking for vigilance but could shed no further light on the reports that were circulating in the media. Under such circumstances the avoidance of large gatherings is a standard response. By the end of the day this media coverage ultimately made it to the BBC World News, although again there was very little further substantial information provided.
I am in contact with the representatives of the British Embassy, and will be informed immediately that there is any change in the security status for Thailand. Over recent months this has remained unchanged, and there has been no credible information received to substantiate the recent media reports.
The police response this morning is that there is nothing new to report. However, at my request the school will continue with extra surveillance until the end of this term.
Security around the school.
I have been asked to comment on the fact that cars are not routinely stopped at the gate to be searched. This touches upon a much wider issue of school security.
To stop and search vehicles effectively requires much more than a cursory check in the boot. We do not have the necessary equipment to do this, but more importantly neither is it possible to stop the flow of traffic into the school, around four separate gates, without blocking the busy road and causing a much higher risk of traffic accidents immediately outside the school.
The perimeter roads around the school have now become major transport routes enabling vehicles to avoid road-works on Thekprassatri Road. The roads are very dangerous which is why the school has placed speed bumps near the gates, but even so the impatience, in particular, of taxi-drivers and mini-bus drivers poses a much greater risk to our families as they come to school in the morning – there have already been several accidents along the school perimeter road including immediately outside our gates.
The Security guards recognise our families and cars and look for the BISP windscreen sticker, but will challenge people they do not recognise or who do not have windscreen stickers, they do all they can, however, to get our students into the school grounds rather than waiting in queues on the main road. Replacing one potential risk with an even greater and more obvious one is not sensible.
Plans are being examined to limit the number of entrances into the school, and to create a fenced area to allow the school to construct a security barrier around the main car park. We are trying to do this in such a way that we do not significantly destroy the community feel of the school. However, the car park also needs to be enlarged significantly to make this possible.
There is much to do, and very careful thought needs to go into the final plans. The school has been working on this since the beginning of the term.
I would like to conclude by reminding everyone that school continues this week as normal, and we finish on Friday 11 December at 12.45pm.
May I take this opportunity to relay my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those involved in the planning and preparation for the Christmas Fair – to receive the full support of this group of people who work tirelessly in support of the school and had put so much effort into this event, certainly made my decision a little easier to bear.
With my very best wishes for a very peaceful and enjoyable holiday,