Shock as 8-year-old wields blade at school

Incident: Police attend Deeside primary after child threatened

Police were called to a north-east primary after a pupil reportedly threatened another child with a weapon.

Officers attended at the Deeside school on August 31 after an eight-yearold brandished what is believed to be a blade at a fellow pupil.

No one was hurt in the incident and staff dealt with the situation before calling the police.

The boy was subsequently reported to the youth justice management unit.

It is the second serious incident to come to light in a matter of weeks.

Police were called to Ellon Primary School on September 10 after a similar incident involving a knife, following which a boy was also reported to the unit.

Schools across the region have been on high alert for pupils carrying weapons since the tragic 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.

Councils have also committed to educating pupils about the dangers and consequences of weapons.

North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald said these latest incidents showed there was a need for education at all ages.

Mr Macdonald said: “I think cases like this show that it’s important these resources are used at every age.

“If anything, younger children are less likely to understand the consequences of carrying weapons and it makes 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 high-profile incidents involving blades and other weapons at north-east schools.

In July The Press and Journal revealed the number of pupils in Aberdeenshire schools suspended for wielding weapons had almost trebled over the last six years.

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West MSP, said: “I am shocked to hear that something like this has happened at a Deeside primary.

“Parents will understandably 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 that police have acted swiftly.”

Inspector Matt Smith said: “We work closely alongside our partners in education to ensure our schools and communities are safe places.

“A well-established multi-agency response plan is in place which includes a prompt assessment and follow-up to any incident to support all those involved.”

A council spokeswoman added: “We treat any reports of knife incidents very seriously and act swiftly in the interests of pupil and staff safety.”

“Youngerchildren arelesslikelyto understand the consequences”