Blade threat by boy, 8, to fellow pupil
Area’s second school knife incident
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD threatened a fellow pupil with a knife at school, it has emerged.
Police were called and the boy was later reported to the youth justice management unit.
The drama, involving pupils on Deeside, is the second blade scare in Aberdeenshire schools that has come to light in recent weeks.
Police were called to Ellon Primary on September 10 after a similar incident involving a knife. A boy was reported to the youth justice management unit on that occasion, too.
Schools across the region have been on high alert for pupils carrying weapons since the death of Bailey Gwynne in 2016.
The Cults Academy pupil was stabbed to death by a classmate over a fight involving a biscuit in October 2015.
North east MSP Lewis Macdonald said these latest alerts showed there was a need for kids of all ages to be educated about the dangers of carrying knives.
He added: “Cases like this show that it’s important these resources are used at every age.
“Younger children are less likely to understand the consequences of carrying weapons and it makes it all it all the more urgent that steps are taken to make sure both children and families understand that this is never the right thing to do.”
There have been a number of incidents involving blades and other weapons at north-east schools.
In July, it was revealed the number of pupils in Aberdeenshire schools suspended for wielding weapons had almost trebled over the last six years.
Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett said he was shocked by the Deeside school scare on August 31.
He added: “Parents will be very concerned that a weapon was involved.
“However, there are robust plans in place to deal with this type of incident and I am pleased police acted swiftly.”
Inspector Matt Smith said: “We work closely alongside our partners in education to ensure our schools and communities are safe places.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman added: “We treat any reports of knife incidents very seriously and act swiftly in the interests of pupil and staff safety.”