The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Police look into school stab threat
ALERT: Officers seize potential weapon following call-out at Perth High School
Police were called to Perth High School to investigate a pupil’s threats that he would stab a fellow student.
A potential weapon was recovered by officers following a search and inquiries are ongoing.
The disturbing incident came as it was revealed the school has had to set guards at fire alarms to stop lessons being abandoned through their malicious use.
Pupils have lost hours of study in recent days as a small group of classmates have repeatedly activated alarms.
Scottish Fire and Rescue crews have slammed that behaviour as “reckless and dangerous”.
Councillor Sheila McCole said such incidents risk serious reputational damage to the school, its staff and its pupils.
Head teacher Thirza Pupillo said “appropriate action” had been taken in connection with both incidents.
A Perth school has found itself at the heart of a police investigation into stabbing threats amid days of chaos.
Officers were called to Perth High School after a student made serious threats to a fellow pupil following a playground fight.
A search revealed a potential weapon, with officers confiscating a bottleopener containing a sharply pointed corkscrew.
Police Scotland said officers had attended at Perth High on Wednesday after “an incident involving a pupil with a bottle opener with a corkscrew”.
“Prompt action was taken by staff and no one was injured,” a spokeswoman said.
Inquiries into that incident are still ongoing and come during turmoil caused by a string of school evacuations.
The secondary school has had to post prefects as guards after pupils repeatedly forced the abandonment of classes by setting off fire alarms.
Pupils and staff were forced to muster outside four times within a matter of hours last Friday and once more on Monday after alarms were maliciously activated.
Hours of lessons were lost and local councillors fear the “disappointing” incidents risk severe “reputational damage” to Perth High.
School authorities said a thorough investigation into the fire alarm activations had taken place and “appropriate” action had been taken.
Scottish Fire and Rescue (SFRS) said such malicious hoax calls were “reckless and dangerous” and diverted resources from genuine emergencies.
Crews were first alerted last Friday to reports of a fire at Muirend Avenue, where they extinguished a burning hedge.
SFRS group manager Ewan Baird said: “While attending this incident, a call point was set off at Perth High due to smoke being seen in the area.
“Crews were then called a further three times to the school due to the malicious activation of call points.
“Local officers are engaging directly with the school to raise awareness about the dangers of hoax calls.
“Malicious calls are not only reckless and dangerous, but can divert SFRS resources away from genuine emergencies where people require our help.”
Prompt action was taken by staff and no one was injured. POLICE SPOKESWOMAN