Drizzt
Member
Hoard of school weapons seized
Holly Marney
A DEADLY cache of more than 300 weapons, including air pistols, swords and an improvised flame-thrower, have been seized from schoolchildren in the past year.
Official figures obtained by The Sunday Times under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Scotland’s classrooms and playgrounds are rife with weapons ranging from claw hammers and knuckle-dusters to martial arts implements and knives.
In dozens of cases the weapons were used to attack fellow pupils and teachers, who are struggling to cope with rising violence in the classroom.
Knives made up a third of the haul, suggesting that Scotland’s fascination with blades — which are used in about 50 murders each year — begins at a young age.
The figures have raised concerns about the deep-rooted culture that has made Scotland the most violent country in the developed world.
Glasgow alone accounted for 118 weapons seizures. In North Lanarkshire 68 pupils have been expelled over the past year for incidents involving weapons. In just less than half of the cases, the children had attacked another pupil or teacher.
Police groups and teaching unions said they were shocked by the statistics.
Fiona Hyslop, the SNP’s shadow education minister, said parents will be extremely alarmed by the figures.
“Scotland needs to tackle its knife culture in particular and there has to be zero tolerance to this in schools.” she said.
Margaret Mitchell, the Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokeswoman, said schools might have to introduce metal detectors, already commonplace in America, to ensure law-abiding pupils are protected.
“Parents send their children to school in the assumption that they are going to be in a safe environment. This raises very serious concerns about whether this is happening or not.”
This week police revealed they are set to introduce more campus officers in Scotland’s secondary schools. There are currently five in Glasgow and three in north Ayrshire.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2090-1859930,00.html
gee, I thought banning all the evil guns was supposed to make the kiddies safe and make everyone get along happily?
Holly Marney
A DEADLY cache of more than 300 weapons, including air pistols, swords and an improvised flame-thrower, have been seized from schoolchildren in the past year.
Official figures obtained by The Sunday Times under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Scotland’s classrooms and playgrounds are rife with weapons ranging from claw hammers and knuckle-dusters to martial arts implements and knives.
In dozens of cases the weapons were used to attack fellow pupils and teachers, who are struggling to cope with rising violence in the classroom.
Knives made up a third of the haul, suggesting that Scotland’s fascination with blades — which are used in about 50 murders each year — begins at a young age.
The figures have raised concerns about the deep-rooted culture that has made Scotland the most violent country in the developed world.
Glasgow alone accounted for 118 weapons seizures. In North Lanarkshire 68 pupils have been expelled over the past year for incidents involving weapons. In just less than half of the cases, the children had attacked another pupil or teacher.
Police groups and teaching unions said they were shocked by the statistics.
Fiona Hyslop, the SNP’s shadow education minister, said parents will be extremely alarmed by the figures.
“Scotland needs to tackle its knife culture in particular and there has to be zero tolerance to this in schools.” she said.
Margaret Mitchell, the Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokeswoman, said schools might have to introduce metal detectors, already commonplace in America, to ensure law-abiding pupils are protected.
“Parents send their children to school in the assumption that they are going to be in a safe environment. This raises very serious concerns about whether this is happening or not.”
This week police revealed they are set to introduce more campus officers in Scotland’s secondary schools. There are currently five in Glasgow and three in north Ayrshire.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2090-1859930,00.html
gee, I thought banning all the evil guns was supposed to make the kiddies safe and make everyone get along happily?
