Four-year-old among thousands of children caught with weapons in school, figures show

Police seized knuckle-dusters, swords and meat cleaver from pupils, investigation finds

Five weapons are seized on every day of the English school year, on average (File photo) (PA)

Thousands of pupils – including a child aged just four – have been caught carrying weapons into school, figures show.

Police officers have confiscated knives, and other weapons – including knuckle-dusters, swords, a machete, a meat cleaver and a gun, from schoolchildren, an investigation has found.

In a Cambridgeshire school, a fidget-spinner toy was adapted with a spike to be used as a weapon.

There were 1,072 such seizures in the last financial year, up from 831 in the previous 12 months, according to data obtained by the Press Association under freedom of information laws.

There were a further 311 incidents – between April and August this year – information with relevant data from 29 police forces in England and Wales showed.

Police chiefs have warned that violence is a growing problem among young people and said forces are working with schools to explain to children why they should not carry weapons.

The figure is expected to be much higher as several forces – including the country’s largest force, the London’s Metropolitan Police – did not provide data.

On average, five weapons are seized every day of the English school year, figures also showed.

This comes amid growing concern about knife crime, with police-recorded incidents at the highest level since current records began.

Lucy Martindale – a youth worker from London who has lost 11 family members and friends to murder, gun and knife crime over seven years – said: “The situation is getting worse, even just this year.

“Some young people I speak to say before they leave the house – where most people check they have picked up their keys and wallet or purse – they check they have their knives with them.”

“There needs to be more collaborative action – not just government, but the community as a whole, parents, police, coming together and trying to come up with an answer.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “These figures are grim but unsurprising and reflect a growing problem over the prevalence of weapons in wider society”.

“The scourge of weapons has grown worse in recent years, and while there are a number of complex factors involved, a key issue has been cuts in policing and local support services for vulnerable families.”

“Gangs have filled this vacuum and often pressure and groom young people into dealing drugs and carrying weapons. Schools are doing their best to tackle these problems but they cannot possibly solve this issue on their own.”

Mr Barton called for well-resourced community support services and more investment in policing.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for children and young people, said: “Serious violence is a growing problem amongst young people and we continue to work closely with partners to address this.

“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 is never the right choice.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Schools should be safe and disciplined environments for both pupils and teachers.”

“We recently announced a £10m investment to establish behaviour hubs so that schools with a track record of effectively managing pupils’ behaviour can share what works with schools that need it.”

“We have strengthened teachers’ powers so they can take action if they suspect a pupil has brought a prohibited item, including knives, into schools.”

Additional reporting by Press Association