SCHOOL KNIFE CRIME SCANDAL

At least 79 incidents since Bailey Gwynne was stabbed to death But half of councils don’t know scale of problem in their area

HALF of Scotland’s local education authorities are failing to gather information about the number of knife incidents in their schools – two years after the fatal stabbing of pupil Bailey Gwynne.

The Sunday Post can reveal that there have been 79 knife incidents in Scottish schools since Bailey’s death – including an alarming 20 in just nine months in Aberdeen, where the teenager went to school.

But the actual total will be much higher, as half of the country’s 32 councils were unable to supply figures – because they do not collate them.

Last night, campaigner John Muir described the situation as “shocking”.

Mr Muir, who founded the Inverclyde Anti-Knife Group after his son Damian was stabbed to death in Greenock in 2007, said: “If someone is caught carrying a knife at school, it’s a red flag – their name should be going on a register. So how can so many councils say it’s too difficult to find out how many have been caught?

“There is still far too much pussy-footing around when it comes to knife crime.

“A person being struck down with a knife, like Bailey Gwynne was, is one of the most terrible things a family can endure.”

An independent report on Bailey’s death compiled for Aberdeen City Council recommended that all knife incidents in schools should be reported to police and properly recorded by the authority.

The Scottish Government’s new guidelines on reducing school exclusions also call for the proper recording of incidents involving weapons.

But 15 councils were unable to provide figures, with most saying they would have to check every pupil’s record individually to get the information and the process would be too costly.

Campaigner David Stark said

parents should always be informed of knife incidents at their child’s school.

Mr Stark, whose 25-yearold brother Sean was murdered by a knife-wielding thug outside a pub in Lochgelly, Fife, in 2009, said the number of youngsters caught with blades in Scotland in the last two years was concerning.

“It shouldn’t be like this,” he said. “Why are so many young people bringing a knife to school? My brother’s oldest daughter is due to go to high school next year and this really worries me.

“I’m surprised to hear some councils saying they