SCHOOL BLADES CRISIS

Five knife incidents per day

TEACHERS are having to tackle knife crime in the classroom, with five blade-related incidents reported in schools every day.

Weapons seized by police from schoolchildren include zombie knives, a sword, meat cleaver, knuckle dusters, Tasers and guns.

There were 49 incidents involving youngsters under 10 who are too young to be prosecuted.

In Wales, Dyfed-powys officers recorded an incident involving a four-year-old with a weapon.

Knives have been involved in 1,260 incidents in schools since April 2017, equal to five cases for every day of the English school year, Freedom of Information data from police forces in England and Wales shows.

In Greater Manchester, there were incidents involving a six-year-old, seven-year-old, three eight-year-olds and four nine-year-olds. A samurai sword, machete and Taser were among weapons found in schools.

A seven-year-old in Hertfordshire allegedly had a 6in kitchen knife, while in Bedfordshire, a machete, meat cleaver and firearm were recovered from schools.

West Midlands Police reported incidents with an axe and zombie knife.

And a police photo from October 2017 shows a deadly arsenal of guns and knives found in a West Midlands school.

Thames Valley police said a bayonet, hatchet, machete and Taser had been found in schools. Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Serious violence is a growing problem among young people.” The National Association of Head Teachers’ Paul Whiteman blamed “a lack of funding” on public services.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “Schools should be safe and disciplined environments.”