More police and surveillance won’t prevent the next school tragedy

https://theconversation.com/more-police-and-surveillance-wont-prevent-the-next-school-tragedy-275872

Publish Date: 2026-02-16 18:16:00

Source Domain: theconversation.com

Impact of Isolated Tragic Events: A significant school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. has prompted scrutiny regarding increased security measures and investment in school safety without sufficient evaluation of their effectiveness.
Focus on Security over Prevention: Despite declines in overall school shootings since 2025, there is a notable trend in focusing on security technology rather than prevention measures despite limited evidence of their efficacy in reducing violent incidents.
Expansion of Police Presence: There’s a growing trend in Canada to increase police presence in schools. However, evidence regarding these measures’ impact on reducing serious violence is mixed, and their disproportionate effects on marginalized students are concerning.
Threat Assessment and AI Concerns: Schools are integrating threat assessment models and AI-driven tools for early intervention and monitoring. These practices risk continuous surveillance and lack clear evidence that they prevent violent incidents effectively.
Relational Breakdowns and Socio-Emotional Support: Research suggests that mass school shootings are context-specific and often stem from social disconnection and relational issues. Effective prevention strategies must focus on building supportive social connections rather than relying solely on surveillance.
Protective Social Connections: Prevention of youth violence emphasizes the importance of social and emotional support through multidisciplinary teams, ensuring environments where students feel safe to seek help and where they can interact positively with peers and staff.