Outrage at number of council staff attacked

Teachers and other education workers the victims in vast majority of incidents

Shock new figures have exposed the scale of attacks on Angus Council staff.

The statistics, released under Freedom of Information, found teachers in the firing line from unruly pupils.

Primary school teachers accounted for 1,426 of the incidents and secondary teachers 577 – more than all other staff combined.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said it was “extremely worrying to see so many incidents of serious violence” in schools across Angus.

She said: “Pupils, however young, who think this kind of behaviour is acceptable have to be removed from the classroom for the safety of teachers and fellow children.”

Angus Council said it was committed to preventing violence and encouraged its staff to record and report such behaviour.

Nearly half a million pounds was paid out to teachers in compensation over the last year as a result of assaults by pupils, or injuries through slips and trips. One teacher was awarded £12,452 and had to undergo an operation after a pupil lashed out and kicked their kneecap off.

The scale of attacks on Angus Council staff has been revealed in shock new figures.

More than 3,000 incidents, including physical attacks, threats of violence and verbal abuse, were made against council staff in the past five years, with the vast majority of them against teachers and other education staff.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said the figures were “extremely worrying” and could lead to a staffing crisis in the county’s classrooms.

She said: “The safety of teachers has to be absolutely paramount, and it’s extremely worrying to see so many incidents of serious violence in our schools.

“Pupils, however young, who think this kind of behaviour is acceptable have to be removed from the classroom for the safety of teachers and fellow children.

“If we don’t clamp down on this now, it will become even more difficult to attract professionals into this industry”

In total, 3,044 incidents were recorded between January 1 2012 and November 20 2017. Primary school teachers accounted for 1,426 of the assaults and secondary teachers 577 – more than all other staff combined.

However, the trend appeared to reverse sharply last year, with 177 assaults recorded compared to the 670 in 2016.

Residential childcare staff were victims 288 times, housing staff 37 times and community planning officers just once.

Of the 3,044 incidents, 797 were physical assaults that caused injury, 1,226 were physical but without injury, 305 were threats and 716 were verbal assaults.

An Angus Council spokesman said: “Assaults on our staff are never acceptable, wherever they occur, whatever the circumstances and irrespective of whether they are verbal or physical.

“We are committed to preventing violence and aggression and encourage our staff to record and report such behaviour. Where incidents do happen, we use all appropriate measures to take action in relation to those responsible and ensure that the staff member affected receives appropriate support.”

It was recently revealed that nearly half a million pounds has been paid out to teachers in compensation over the last year as a result of assaults by pupils, or injuries through slips and trips.

One case included a teacher being awarded £12,452 after they had to undergo an operation when a pupil lashed out and kicked their kneecap off.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “It is important to remember that the majority of pupils are well behaved and a credit to their school.

“However, we want all our children and young people to behave in a respectful manner towards their peers and staff – and no teacher should have to suffer abuse, verbal or physical.”

smilne@thecourier.co.uk

If we don’t clamp down on this now, it will become even more difficult to attract professionals into this industry. SHADOW EDUCATION SECRETARY

LIZ SMITH