The information in this article is not intended to provide an all-encompassing set of rules or requirements but is offered to provide guidance prior to any acceptance of offers of non-police accommodation to store police officer safety equipment and police uniform.

• Early involvement with the police organisation's Property Services, Health & Safety (H&S) is essensitial as advice should be sought prior to any acceptance of accommodation.
• The School are responsible for the installation and maintenance of all security arrangements at the address.
• No responsibility should be placed on the school to secure and safeguard police assets and no responsibility placed on the police to secure or safeguard school assets other than the normal expectation that police officers will close and secure doors and windows where appropriate and notify the school of any potential security issues that may be identified while occupying the proposed accommodation or elsewhere on site.
• The school is responsible for carrying out its own risk assessment in relation to the police storing police Officers officer safety equipment and police uniform on their site. In particular, to the storage of pava spray on school premises. This is in addition to the police risk assessment.

Recommended security requirements

• A room with a single point of access, single leaf inward opening door with at least two (2) points of locking including a BS 5 lever mortice lock or EN equivalent.
• The room provided should not be externally accessed to provide a means of escape route to rooms/areas on either side of the room
• Keys to the room must be in the possession of police personnel only. Where there is a requirement from the school to maintain availability to the room further discussion should be held regarding access and any decisions covered in the risk assessment.

Security guidance

• Window blinds to be fitted where rooms have ground floor or other accessible glazing.
• An agreement and introduction of procedures with the school that would allow police officers access to the school premises should they require their officer safety equipment and police uniform outside of school opening hours. This is important in cases where the police officer is called to duty.
• Hazardous Chemical signs to be clearly visible.
• Agreement with the school that they fully understand the risks associated with the potential storage of officer safety equipment and police uniform.
• A full Risk assessment undertaken by the police in relation to the storage of officer safety equipment and police uniform and in relation to the officer's working within schools and away from police premises.
• If the advice and required security parameters within this guidance cannot be met the local police supervisor will be required to carry out a full risk assessment on any alternative arrangements the school can provide, and identify and agree mitigation measures in respect of police assets OR accept any risks associated in writing.

Additional security considerations

• Appropriate and approved secure storage cabinets/lockers to be located within a room for the storage of officer safety equipment and police uniform.
• Separate approved storage cabinet/locker/safe for the secure storage of pava spray installed into a solid fabric wall or floor within the Police room.
• ALL police Protectively Marked Material up to "RESTRICTED/OFFICIAL" and any other “sensitive” material must be stored in an appropriate and approved lockable cabinet/locker i.e. locking bar or other similarly secure cabinet/locker.
• NO police Protectively Marked Material above "RESTRICTED" is to be stored, held or viewed at this location.
• Care MUST be exercised in displaying any sensitive information i.e. addresses, personal details, telephone numbers, photographs on walls or boards, which can be viewed from outside the room via open door or if any non-police vetted person is present within the room when accompanied by the officer.
• Care MUST be exercised when undertaking telephone conversations within the room to ensure that the door is closed to ensure that it would be difficult for anyone outside the room to listen into conversations.
• A clear desk policy MUST be maintained at all times when the room is unoccupied.
• The door MUST be kept closed and locked at ALL times when the room is unoccupied.
• Do not have signage on the door indicating the room is occupied by police unless a reasonable need to have signage is provided by the school in conjunction with the local Police.
• Officers and police staff members deployed at schools MUST be made fully aware of the school’s H&S, Fire Regulations and building regulations and any other requirements identified in relation I.T. and telephony use, where appropriate.
• School cleaners and maintenance staff MUST only be permitted entry to clean within the room when the officer is present and only when the officer is satisfied that any Protectively Marked or otherwise sensitive material is out of easy view.
• All offers of accommodation to police made by schools should result in the force carrying out a security assessment on a “site specific” basis to identify any potential security concerns. 
• Any funding that is required to meet the security requirements is a discussion between the school and the local police.