Stealing during lesson, what action can I expect?

[gethelp]

My dd had her Oyster card taken from her blazer pocket during final period on Monday, she was aware of the person touching her blazer but didn't realise he had taken anything until she got on the bus. The holder it was in was still there. When she got home I emailed the head of year and explained what had happened. I have had no response and my daughter has told me that her form tutor asked her on Wednesday what she would like to happen, to which my dd(12) said she didn't know. My Dd said that there was nothing they could do as the Oyster card would no longer be on the premises. I would have expected the Head of Year to acknowledge my email, and talk to my daughter and the boy who was touching her blazer. What do you think?( Obviously I am cross because this has cost me bus fare (£16) and replacement fee (£10) so am maybe being irrational)

Fairly difficult to be honest. It depends on the child who took it. Does your daughter know who it is? If the Oyster card has gone, there is no proof of the crime (which really sounds bizarre. Was it a joke?) apart from your daughter's word. Thus everything will depend on the ability of SLT to crack the accused who, unfortunately, sounds like a hardened criminal and hence less likely to crack.

I take it you are in London. Is there a police officer based in the school? In our school, they would check the Oyster card of the accused to see if it was registered in your daughter's name. They would then be in serious trouble. If there was no Oyster card, then the behavioural team would crack them. There would be exclusions/ threats of CCTV evidence etc. Those ladies make the Guantanamo Bay team looks like wusses. No child survives a day of questionning.

The money is not the issue. It is the fact that they have pickpocketed, which if the child is good at it now, will definitely lead to bigger things. I know our police officers would definitely pursue this one (I've had two kids arrested in my lessons for relatively minor crimes. I think the theory is, make a big deal of it now and it won't develop into a problem later).

Since you emailed the school, someone should reply to you. Perhaps you should phone the school and ask what is happening?

Thank you, funnily enough my dh suggested our dd had been targeted by someone who she had annoyed in some way. As you have said my main concern is that children should be safe in lessons and that tolerating petty crime is bad for morale. I'm not naive, the Oyster card will be long gone, and isn't a massive advantage to anyone as it has my dd's picture on and is now cancelled. It's the theft and the lack of communication that is troubling me. I will ring on Monday and ask for an appointment.

I think you can expect precisely zilch I am afraid.