SCHOOLS should be given more cash to improve security, says the government working group set up after the murder of London head teacher Philip Lawrence.

There can be no argument against the expense where the need exists.

But though high-profile tragedies like the Dunblane murders, the "flame-thrower" horror at an Ulster school and the death of Mr Lawrence spell out the need for greater protection of staff and children, the necessity or desire for schools to become fortresses as a result does not exist.

Common sense and experience suggests that it is the more mundane problems of vandalism, occasionally obstreperous parents and difficult pupils that confront most schools.

And if the outcome of this study is that measures such as surveillance cameras, electronically-controlled access and reception facilities were installed at schools which ask for them, then schools will be safer generally - and armed to a considerable extent against repeats of the kind of high-profile tragedies that have provoked this review of security.

Certainly, closed-circuit TV is one measure that most might adopt - particularly in view of its remarkable effectiveness in reducing crime and vandalism in town centres.

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