A hold and secure was in place at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School yesterday.
RCMP had most of Forest Street closed around 1:30 p.m. due to a report of a ‘suspicious person’ in the area.
Police confirmed to our newsroom today that there were no arrests or charges laid, and there was no criminality in the incident.
Jared Purdy, acting Regional Executive Director of Education for the Tri-Counties describes what happens during a hold and secure.
“Staff and students would remain in the classroom or in the building. Other activities within the school can still take place. Any students or staff outside the building would come back in immediately,” says Purdy.
Purdy says the criteria to go into a hold and secure can vary, from an animal threat to police action in the neighbourhood.
He says yesterday the school Tri-County Regional Centre for Education followed RCMP advice to go into the hold and secure.
Purdy says in these situations, they go with information received from police.
“I know that can be tough for the public, because they’re wondering what’s happening. On our end, we need to go with updated and accurate information from the RCMP, which we did yesterday.”
Students at the school were dismissed on time.
