Students claim that West Herts College guard attacked boy

The Watford campus for West Herts College held an internal investigation following claims of misconduct at the school.

It is alleged that on October 11 this year, a security guard at the school sat on top of a teenage boy for a lengthy amount of time, while the boy was verbally acting out.

The situation arose after a minor dispute with one boy and a supply teacher, but it allegedly escalated to the point that the campus security guard was “needlessly” summoned to deescalate the situation.

Instead, some students have told the Watford Observer that it allegedly resulted in the security guard getting on top of the boy to the extent that the boy shouted “I can’t breathe, please get off me”.

A group of girls were then allegedly pleading and begging for the guard to get off the boy, but it is claimed that their pleas were ignored.

It is alleged that a guard was on top of a boy before throwing a chair and bin at him

Eventually the guard is said to have grabbed the boy, locked himself in an empty classroom with the boy and threw a chair and a bin at him.

Several students say they saw the situation, with some telling the paper that they are distraught from witnessing it.

A teacher at the scene was allegedly alerted, but the incident is said to have been ignored.

Seven students, including the group who overlooked the situation and the boy involved, were then suspended as an internal investigation took place at the school.

Following the investigation, the students were brought back in for a meeting and excluded.

Hawra Ali, 25, who is a sister of one of the excluded students is speaking on behalf of the excluded group and has filed a formal complaint to the college.

She said: “It could have been handled a lot better, a security guard with that type of aggression should not be working with minors. It’s really concerning.

“Especially that he locked himself in a room with a minor. The teachers were there, they observed everything.

“He thrown a chair at him, swearing at him, bullying him basically.”

The sister explained she is concerned about the “abuse and neglect” allegedly shown from the guard and the fact that teachers did not interfere with the incident.

Police were called twice to the college to help deal with the situation (Image: N/A)

Speaking specifically on the six other students than the boy involved, she said: “It’s not fair to exclude six children just because they tried to tell the teachers ‘what’s happening is not right, you need to step in and do something.’

“They didn’t actually do anything these children, they didn’t deserve to be excluded at all.

“And then they didn’t take action against the security guard, they just moved him to a different campus.

“Now a teacher’s role is to whistle blow, especially when they see a child getting abused or assaulted – but they didn’t do any of that, they didn’t file a compliant.”

The sister told the paper that she finally issued a complaint on Monday (November 15) after “struggling” to get the college to send the complaint form over.

She concluded: “The security guard was in the wrong, he should not have raised his hand to a minor and should not have been aggressive in that way, especially when a child was begging him to stop.”

What has West Herts College said?

A spokesperson for the college said: “On October 11 there was an incident at the Watford campus, to which the police were called.

“In line with our procedures for managing student performance and behaviour seven young people were suspended from learning while further details were established.”

West Herts College said they followed procedure for the students and parents / carers to meet with senior managers – and that the meeting resulted in their permanent exclusion.

The spokesperson continued: “The College conducted a full investigation of the incident and is fully satisfied with the decisions made and the conduct of all employees involved.

“The College’s Student Services team continue to be available to help these students find alternative education, training or employment.

“The College does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour, and remains fully committed to providing a safe and enjoyable teaching and learning environment for all students and staff.”