Samurai swords and axes among thousands of weapons confiscated from British schoolchildren

More than 2,500 weapons seized in English and Welsh schools last year - with children as young as five found to be carrying knives and missiles

(PA)

Thousands of weapons including samurai swords, axes and air guns have been seized from schools across the UK, latest figures reveal.

Police chiefs also highlighted a “worrying increase” in the number of young people carrying knives – with children as young as five found to be bringing a variety of weapons to school.

Information given to the Press Association by police forces in England and Wales found at least one in five reported incidents involved knives, while the data suggests an overall increase in the number of weapons found on school premises.

Analysis of data from 32 police forces that gave figures showed there were 2,579 weapons found from the 2015-16 financial year to this year.

The number is believed to be much higher, however, since many police forces declined to provide data, or offered only incomplete figures under the Freedom of Information Act.

In 2016-17 alone, 1,369 items were found - a rise of almost 20 per cent on the previous year, despite this not covering a full 12-month period.

According to the 24 forces that gave details on the type of weapon, just under 500 of those seized (nearly one fifth) were knives - including samurai swords.

The figures come amid a crackdown on knife crime in schools by some forces.

Previous reports show knife crime to be particularly prevalent among young people in London boroughs.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick spoke of her “huge concern” last month, shortly before the police force announced officers would be working with schools to highlight the potential consequences of carrying a knife.

Commenting on the latest figures, Pat Green from the Ben Kinsella Trust - which works with schools to educate pupils on the consequences of knife-crime - said children carrying weapons were likely to be emotionally vulnerable and in need of support.

He said: "Parents, teachers and pupils will be really concerned about these figures. We must act now to ensure that knife crime doesn't spread from the streets to the classroom.

"In our experience too many young people don't understand the dangers associated with carrying knives. Many young people who have been bullied or victimised choose to carry a knife for protection."

Children and young people were most often unaware that by carrying a weapon they are increasing their likelihood of serious injuries and even death, he added.

Responding to the Press Association’s information requests, police officials emphasised they were already working with schools to help educate young people on the dangers of carrying weapons.

Other items confiscated by police in the past year included at least 26 guns, including BB guns, air rifles and an imitation firearm.

More unusual contraband included a police baton, a rolling pin, a can of beer and a 15-inch metal rod.

One student fashioned an improvised battery device, it was reported, while another was caught with an unwound paperclip to use as an implement.

At least 47 children found with weapons were below 10 years old, the age at which someone can be prosecuted, police said.

This included three five-year-olds, one of whom was caught with a knife, while another was found with a “missile” - typically a brick or a rock.

A handful of forces offered historical data illustrating weapons seized in previous years including a guillotine, a Taser gun and a ukulele.

In a minority of cases, depending how information was recorded, incidents could have involved the use of body parts such as a fist.

Forces in England and Wales were asked for information on the numbers of weapons seized in schools, along with details of the incidents.

National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Knife Crime, Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock, said: “Schools should be free of weapons and all children should be able to learn without fear or violence.

"Carrying a weapon of any kind in schools is not an issue for a school to deal with alone; police and partners will always be willing to work with them and take appropriate action.

”We have recently seen an increase in young people carrying knives and this is worrying. We are responding to this trend by targeting those who carry them illegally and working with retailers to reduce the sale of knives to underage people through nationally coordinated operations.

“Police involvement in schools, whether it be officers delivering talks and interactive sessions or based in schools themselves as part of the Safer Schools Partnership, helps us to educate young people and explain why carrying a weapon illegally is never acceptable.”

Latest Government figures show that in 2014-15, primary and secondary school pupils in England were suspended on more than 132,000 occasions for assault or verbally abusing and threatening behaviour.

In addition, there were more than 2,100 permanent exclusions for these reasons.

Mr Green added: "We need to make knife crime awareness part of the national curriculum. Our work with schools demonstrates that helping young people to develop alternative strategies to dealing with conflict and teaching positive ways to stay safe massively reduces the likelihood of them ever carrying a knife."

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Schools work closely with the police to protect and educate their pupils, and in some cases police officers are stationed in schools.

"Where appropriate, schools conduct searches and use metal detectors, and they implement robust disciplinary procedures against anyone found in possession of a weapon.

”Young people are taught about the dangers of offensive weapons both in lessons and in talks delivered by invited speakers.“