School weapons searches come into force

Teachers or security staff will be able to search pupils for knives and other offensive weapons without consent, under a new law which comes into force today.

It follows powers allowing schools to use screening devices such as metal detecting arches and wands in a bid to protect students from knife crime.

Teachers' leaders have raised concerns about the England-wide reforms, saying the strategy could have "dangerous or fatal consequences".

Guidance says staff should call police if they are concerned about safety risks, and schools can use professionally trained security staff to conduct screening and searching as well as teachers.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Every child has the right to learn in a secure and safe environment. Fortunately knife incidents in schools are extremely rare and the majority of schools will not need to use these measures.

"The main way to keep knives out of our schools is to continue educating young people about the dangers associated with illegally carrying a knife. But one violent crime caused by a weapon is one too many.

"This new power was called for by teachers, but our guidance makes clear that a search should never take place where there is any risk to staff or pupils. In those circumstances the police should be called.

"Schools can also use metal detector arches and wands to screen pupils for knives where the head feels this is helpful and would work as a deterrent.

"I think parents will welcome the clear message that bringing a weapon into school is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated.

"Screening, alongside today's new power for searches, means that schools now have the law behind them so they can take the necessary action to prevent weapons from coming through the front gate."

The guidance says staff can only carry out searches with the authorisation of the headteacher.

It includes advice on how to screen pupils and suggests that a randomly selected group of pupils, such as a , could be screened in order to send out a strong deterrent message.

Two members of staff must be present at every search, and the guidance recommends that both should have received appropriate training.

Searches must by conducted by a staff member who is the same sex as the pupil and, where possible, they should take place out of public view.

Schools can refuse entry to pupils who refuse to be screened.

Home Office minister Tony McNulty said: "These new measures in the Violent Crime Reduction Act send out a clear message that violence and weapons will not be tolerated in our schools.

"It is important that schools remain a safe haven where teachers and pupils are protected, even in challenging areas. We must stop problems in the wider community passing through the school gate.

"Young people are often the victims of crime and it is our duty to protect them. I'm sure that we have the full support of parents, teachers and the vast majority of well-behaved pupils in making schools safe 'no go areas' for weapons."

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it was the job of police to search individuals for weapons.

The NAHT said it would advise members to call for help from police, who were trained and had the appropriate body armour, if they suspected a pupil had a weapon.

And it said metal detectors and other screening devices would be "somewhat impractical" given the size of most secondary schools and the number of entrances and exits.

NAHT spokeswoman Jan Myles said: "This is a high-risk strategy which could have dangerous or fatal consequences."

NAHT national president David Tuck added: "It needs to be remembered that most schools are safe and secure places where children are happy. The overwhelming majority of children go to school to learn, not to fight."

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) welcomed the reforms, but ministers should advise heads to consider offering protective clothing when asking staff to search "potentially dangerous pupils for knives or guns", a spokesman said.

"Heads should consider purchasing protective clothing for the school's security office so it is available when necessary," he added.

Shadow education secretary David Willetts said: "This is evidence of how serious the crisis of anti-social behaviour and indeed violence is in our schools.

"It is no good just tackling the symptoms. The Government has to get to the root of the problem - which is building the authority of headteachers and restoring their power to exclude the worst behaved pupils."

Copyright Press Association 2007

Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information - http://www.24dash.com/podcasts