"After School Hours, Around Schools"… Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Conducts Customized Patrols

Customized Child Safety Keeper Policing Activities to Be Launched from the 10th

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced the results of the "Our Neighborhood Child Safety Keeper Survey," conducted over two months since March, on the 10th.

This survey was conducted with 2,193 residents of Seoul, collecting information on residents' preferences regarding △patrol locations △patrol times △activities of safety keepers △awareness of the child safety keeper system and suggestions for system improvements through an online method using QR codes.

First, the most preferred patrol location was around elementary schools (51.9%), followed by playgrounds (18.3%), apartment complexes (18.2%), and parks (9.6%). These are mostly quiet alleys and vacant lots where child-targeted crimes are likely to occur, as well as areas frequently visited by delinquent youth.

The preferred patrol time was ranked first as the children's after-school hours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (78.2%), with some respondents also preferring school arrival times and post-sunset hours (18.2%).

Regarding the roles expected of child safety keepers, active patrol activities aimed at child safety (73.3%) were most desired, followed by child traffic guidance (14.7%), prevention of youth delinquency such as smoking (8.2%), and school violence prevention activities (4.2%).

However, awareness of the child safety keeper system was somewhat low, with 52.1% responding that they did not know about it, compared to 47.8% who said they did. Currently, child safety keepers have been implemented since 2013 as auxiliary security personnel for child safety, with 1,218 deployed and operating only in the Seoul area.

Additionally, respondents requested improvements to the system, such as practical activities rather than formal patrols (72.5%) and active promotional activities to raise awareness of the child safety keeper system (15.5%).

Reflecting the survey results, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will begin tailored security activities for child safety keepers starting from the 10th. Jo Ji-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated, “Security activities to protect socially vulnerable groups, especially children, must be actively and practically conducted by reflecting the vivid opinions of residents. We will continue to carry out seamless safety activities in security blind spots until the public truly feels safe.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.