Weapons in Schools
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/002932/K
Version Date: 14/03/2025
The Performance Analysis Department have provided the following information.
Searches were completed on Niche using location subtype of School, Other (education), College, University or using keywords of “School”, “College”, “University” or “Academy”.
Please note that no information is held for 2014 as Niche was introduced on 21/05/2015.
- The number of crimes reports where a child under the age of 18 was in possession of a weapon on school/further education premises?
Please provide data for the following calendar years: 2014, 2019, 2023, 2024
Within this - please provide:
Breakdown of type of weapons used (please list examples if you cannot provide a full breakdown)
Breakdown of the ages of the children (e.g. Under 4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14, 14-16, 16-18)
Breakdown of gender (male and female)
|
Year |
Weapon Used |
Age |
Gender |
|
2019 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened) |
10-12 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Female |
|
2019 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Unknown |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Blunt instrument |
14-16 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Firearm - Prohibited;Firearm (possession);Firearm (used/threatened) |
14-16 |
Female |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened) |
14-16 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
16-18 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Other |
16-18 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened);Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
16-18 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Female |
|
2023 |
Imitation |
16-18 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
16-18 |
Male |
|
2024 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
14-16 |
Male |
- The number of crime reports where a child under the age of 18 has committed the following offences on school/further education premises?
Please provide data for each offence for the following calendar years: 2014, 2019, 2023, 2024
a) Common Assault & Battery
b) ABH (s47)
b) GBH (s20)
c) Wounding with or without a weapon (s18)
- 2014 – no information held.
- 2019 - 23
- 2023 - 29
- 2024 - 26
Within this - please provide
Breakdown of the number of victims who was a pupil
65
Breakdown of the number of victims who was a member of staff
9
Breakdown of the ages of the children (e.g. Under 4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14, 14-16, 16-18)
|
Age Range |
Count |
|
6-8 |
3 |
|
10-12 |
17 |
|
12-14 |
42 |
|
14-16 |
17 |
|
16-18 |
3 |
|
Total |
82 |
Please note that there may be more than one suspect for each offence.
Breakdown of gender (male and female)
|
Victim Gender |
Count |
|
Female |
31 |
|
Male |
47 |
|
Total |
78 |
- The number of crime reports where a child under the age of 18 was threatening someone with a weapon on school/further education premises?
Please provide data for the following calendar years: 2014, 2019, 2023, 2024
Within this - please provide:
Breakdown of type of weapons used (please list examples if you cannot provide a full breakdown)
Breakdown of the ages of the children (e.g. Under 4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14, 14-16, 16-18)
Breakdown of gender (male and female)
|
Year |
Weapon Used |
Age |
Gender |
|
2019 |
Stone/rock |
10-12 |
Male |
|
2019 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened);Knife/bladed(possession) |
10-12 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened);Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened);Knife/bladed(possession) |
14-16 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened);Knife/bladed(possession) |
14-16 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/blade (used/threatened);Knife/bladed(possession) |
10-12 |
Male |
|
2023 |
Knife/bladed(possession) |
12-14 |
Female |
|
2024 |
Other |
14-16 |
Male |