Increase in assaults on teachers

TEACHERS and lecturers were assaulted over 70 times in the West Midlands schools last year.

The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request to the west Midlands Police.

They show that teachers were the victims of offences while at work a total of 80 times in the financial year 2017/18.

The data refers to all crimes which were recorded as taking place in a educational establishment and where the victim was recorded as a teacher.

The 80 crimes disclosed by the West Midlands Police include 46 cases of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. There were also 29 common assaults and two malicious wounding.

The data shows a teacher was the victim of one sexual assault and there was also a racially or religiously aggravated assault.

The total number of crimes is slightly higher than the 76 recorded in 2016/17, and eight per cent higher than the 74 recorded in 2015/16.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary at the National Education Union said: “’All teachers have the right to a safe working environment free from threatening, abusive or violent behaviour.

“Nationally, the number of assaults seen over the course of a year is shocking and unacceptable.

“All schools should have a policy in place to both prevent violence to staff, focusing on risk assessments, and to offer support to victims.”