What's the difference between a lockdown and hold and secure? Know the threat level at Halifax schools

A series of threats and potential weapon sightings put several Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) schools on alert last week, ranging from a hoax that locked down Halifax West High School to hold-and-secures for Dartmouth High School, Sackville High School and Leslie Thomas Junior High. 

But what’s the difference between a lockdown and a hold and secure? And are threats to schools in Halifax on the rise? 

Immediate threat versus potential threat 

Lindsey Bunin, a communications officer for HRCE, explained there are key differences between a lockdown order and a hold and secure. 

Lockdowns, she said, are used for immediate or suspected threats inside a school or in the immediate vicinity. Hold-and-secure orders are used for potential threats outside a school or when the movements of students and staff need to be controlled to manage a situation. 

Bunin said students and staff follow safety procedures during lockdowns that may include securing themselves in classrooms and staying out of sight. 

But a hold-and-secure situation has a different procedure. 

For example, last Tuesday, Dartmouth High reported “an individual connected to the school may have been in possession of an item resembling a weapon.” Police advised the school go into a hold and secure while they investigated despite the individual no longer being on the property and classes still taking place. 

Sackville High School and Leslie Thomas Junior High also went into hold and secures when a man with a knife was spotted on school property. 

“In both situations, the response is guided by the circumstances and direction of emergency responders, with the safety of students and staff as the priority,” said Bunin. 

Training is key in stressful situations 

When asked if last week’s incidents were part of a growing reality, Bunin said it’s premature to draw conclusions about a broader trend based on one week. 

“Every situation is different, and we work closely with police and other emergency responders to assess information, determine appropriate precautions and respond to the circumstances at hand,” she said. 

“These incidents are a reminder of the importance of preparedness, clear communication and strong relationships with emergency responders. Our school teams must be ready to respond quickly when a concern is raised, even when information is still emerging.” 

Bunin said HRCE schools practise emergency drills throughout the school year to help students and staff respond to different situations. 

Taking reports seriously 

Although Halifax Regional Police (HRP) said threats made against Halifax West High School were a hoax, both HRP and the Nova Scotia RCMP stress the importance of taking reports of threats or weapons seriously. 

“In the Halifax West incident, we have determined the call came from Florida,” Marla MacInnis, the public relations and communications manager for HRP, told The Chronicle Herald. 

“Swatting is a serious misuse of emergency resources. When a call comes in that is as serious as a person on school property with a weapon, the police response is significant. Not only does it divert first responders away from others who may need help, but it also creates fear and anxiety among students, staff and the broader community that can live on long after police determine there is no threat.” 

The RCMP responded to the hold-and-secure orders at Leslie Thomas Junior High and Sackville High School. 

“The safety of students and staff remains our priority. We take all reports involving schools seriously and work closely with school officials to assess risk, investigate incidents and ensure appropriate safety measures are in place,” said Cpl. Mandy Edwards, a spokesperson for the RCMP’s Halifax regional detachment.