Prosecutor General calls for firm institutional response after axe and knife attacks in schools
Cristina Chiriac has reacted publicly to violent incidents in secondary schools in Pitești and Bistrița, calling for cooperation between ministries and respect for minors' rights.
Chiriac: school safety a state obligation following attacks in Pitești and Bistrița
Prosecutor General Cristina Chiriac has issued a public statement following a series of violent incidents recorded in educational institutions, according to Cotidianul.ro. She has called for institutional firmness, whilst also insisting that any intervention by authorities must respect minors' rights, the presumption of innocence and the principle of proportionality.
The statement came after two serious incidents. At a secondary school in Pitești, two pupils were attacked with an axe by a fellow student. In Bistrița, a 13-year-old pupil attacked another pupil and a teacher with a knife, both of whom were injured.
Chiriac stated that violence in schools cannot be accepted, and the state has a fundamental obligation to protect the life and integrity of pupils and teaching staff. In her view, the gravity of the recent incidents demands a "firm, coordinated and immediate institutional response". Schools must remain spaces dedicated to education and safety, without pupils and teachers being exposed to threats or violence.
The Public Ministry cannot treat such behaviour with indifference, the Prosecutor General further indicated. The investigation of any criminal offence requires, she specified, maximum responsibility, professionalism and speed. Those who have broken the law must answer in accordance with applicable regulations.
Chiriac stressed that school violence must be viewed beyond the educational sphere: where crimes are committed, the phenomenon becomes also a matter of public order. "Warning signs must not be ignored until the moment tragedies occur," she said.
The Prosecutor General expressed her support for the Government's efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Public Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and institutions responsible for child protection. Through such cooperation, risks could be identified early, and interventions could become more effective, within the limits of legal competences.
At the end of her message, Chiriac outlined situations requiring heightened vigilance and insisted that firm enforcement of the law must be linked to prevention and psychological support.
"Special attention must be given to threats made online, manifestations of extremism, access to dangerous objects and any concrete signs of preparation for acts of violence. At the same time, intervention by authorities must respect minors' rights, the presumption of innocence and the principle of proportionality. Firmness in law enforcement does not exclude prevention, education and psychological support. On the contrary, these must work together. Safety in schools is not optional. It is a state obligation and a right of every child and teacher," the Prosecutor General concluded.
Source: Cotidianul.ro