CCTV cameras have been installed at a known crime hot spot in Kogarah after students and a parent were assaulted.
Marist College Principal John Riordan said a number of students had been assaulted over the years as they walked through Frys Reserve from the school to the train station.
The reserve is a known hangout for groups of young people and is surrounded by large bushes.
Mr Riordan said the attacks had increased recently with at least three serious attacks this year alone.
That includes on a parent earlier this year and a student last month.
Parent Vicki Herrmann said she was forced to take action when her 15-year-old son was hit in the back of the head last month.
He was walking from school to the train station with a friend just after 3pm when they were set upon by a group of young men without warning.
He was king hit but didn’t require hospital treatment.
Mrs Herrmann said she was shocked when she heard the news.
‘’My first reaction was to make sure he was okay and then I wanted to make sure he wasn’t involved himself,’’ she said.
‘’Other mother’s have complained about their sons getting pushed but these guys think they can get away with it.’’
Vicki said the pair reported the incident to St George police but were told without CCTV officers wouldn’t be able to identify the attackers. That would make an arrest difficult.
Not happy with that answer she set about working with St George police and Bayside Council to see what safety measures could be taken to make sure it didn’t happen to anyone else.
She had high praise for Senior Constable Sonia Krcalovic and Stephen Williamson from council who helped get the initiative off the ground.
Within weeks CCTV was installed in the reserve and bushes were trimmed back to open up the area.
She said she was thrilled with the result.
‘’It just gives you some piece of mind,’’ she said.
‘’We want to teach people that coward punches won’t be tolerated.’’
Mr Riordan praised her actions.
‘’We’ve had the conversation with police for a while but it wasn’t until Vicki became involved that some action was taken,’’ he said.
‘’It’s wonderful to see such active parents who are prepared to agitate on part of the college community.
‘’The cameras give an extra layer of security and it's not just for the safety of the students- it's for the community as well.’’
