WTF? Thousands of Weapons Seized in UK Schools.

[Alan B]

Huff Post

Thousands Of Weapons Seized From Schools, Including Samurai Swords, Axes And Air Guns

Samurai swords, axes and air guns are among the thousands of weapons to have been seized from schools across the country.
Pupils as young as five were involved in some of the cases, the majority of which did involve children.
At least one in five incidents involved knives, while the data, obtained by the Press Association from police forces in England and Wales, suggests an overall increase in the number of weapons found on school premises.
Police chiefs said there had been a “worrying” increase in young people carrying knives. They said police work with schools to help educate youngsters on why carrying any illegal weapon is wrong

And just before an election, too. How convenient.

So why didn't the previous Tory lot under Cameron do anything about it? They surely must have been aware of the situation with the knife crime being reported?

Ah! I know - 'Austerity' - not enough coppers.

[cronus]

Makes you long for the days when the epitome of cool in idiot youth culture was a flick-knife....

[Alan B]

Makes you long for the days when the epitome of cool in idiot youth culture was a flick-knife....

And a cosh...


Edited OP while you posted.

[Hermit]

Among that trove of weapons: an unwound paperclip.

I wonder how the stats compare with the number and type of weapons present in US school grounds. Also, related student and teacher fatalities.

[pErvinalia]

They'll have to pry my unwound paperclip from my cold dead hands!

[Forty Two]

I'd be careful about believing an article like this -- "....another was caught with a less sophisticated device - an unwound paperclip..." - how many kids had "less sophisticated devices" like that, and are being included in this stat?

Also here - "This included three five-year-olds, one of which was caught with a knife while another was found with a missile - typically a brick or a rock." A five year old picked up a brick or a rock? That's considered a bringing a weapon to school?

A large chunk of the weapons were "knives" which, of course, could include swiss army knives, or small utility knives that teenage boys sometimes carry around.

So, the article was written that 2,579 weapons were confiscated in 2579, including samurai swords and axes. But, I'm willing to bet the picture along with the article contains the "greatest hits" of the seizures, and I doubt there were more than a couple of swords and axes. And, we don't know why the large actual weapons were brought to school - was the kid bringing it in for an innocent reason? If a kid is up to no good, I seriously doubt that he's going to bring a "samurai sword" to school.

The article probably could have been written that 2,579 weapons were seized, including rocks, bricks, unwound paperclips and utility knives, and a very few larger weapons. I think the wording of this to focus on the few actual "weapons" that were brought in, while lumping in the larger, more significant number of rather minor items, should give pause to anyone reading the article, and perhaps it's not a panic situation.

[Forty Two]

Among that trove of weapons: an unwound paperclip.

I wonder how the stats compare with the number and type of weapons present in US school grounds. Also, related student and teacher fatalities.

hey hey hey! what's this business of bringing in the US here - this thread is not about the US, so why are you mentioning it?

[pErvinalia]

[Animavore]

I thought the title meant real weapons.

[Alan B]

I'd be careful about believing an article like this -- "....another was caught with a less sophisticated device - an unwound paperclip..." - how many kids had "less sophisticated devices" like that, and are being included in this stat?

Also here - "This included three five-year-olds, one of which was caught with a knife while another was found with a missile - typically a brick or a rock." A five year old picked up a brick or a rock? That's considered a bringing a weapon to school?

A large chunk of the weapons were "knives" which, of course, could include swiss army knives, or small utility knives that teenage boys sometimes carry around.

Yeah. Hence my 'political' comment...

"...a paper-clip..." "Watch out, you two, or I'll join you together with my trusty paper-clip."

[Forty Two]

I bet some of the "actual weapons" brought in were brought in by some dope who thought it would be fun to show the kids in history class, or use in his class project. I doubt there is a rash of samurai sword or medieval axe-wielding students....

[Hermit]

Among that trove of weapons: an unwound paperclip.

I wonder how the stats compare with the number and type of weapons present in US school grounds. Also, related student and teacher fatalities.

hey hey hey! what's this business of bringing in the US here - this thread is not about the US, so why are you mentioning it?

I mentioned that I wonder how the stats compare. I quite frequently wonder how stats compare, and not just pertaining to the USA. Frequently I even post comparisons. Gun ownership, homicide rates, road fatalities come to mind among others. Your problem with that is...?

[Forty Two]

You're absolutely right, it's fine.

[Alan B]

I bet some of the "actual weapons" brought in were brought in by some dope who thought it would be fun to show the kids in history class, or use in his class project. I doubt there is a rash of samurai sword or medieval axe-wielding students....

I think the origins of that article need to be examined in more in depth. A Samurai sword, FFS! How did the 'kid' get it into school? Tucked down his trousers?
If it was legally owned by, say, a teacher, then seizing it could be considered theft...

[Forty Two]

Zero tolerance -- when a water pistol becomes "bringing a gun to school."