STAFF
TRAINING VITAL TO TACKLE SCHOOL KNIFE CRIME
WELSH Conservative education spokesman William Graham AM today called for details of whether new measures to tackle knife crime in schools will be implemented in Wales.
The Home Office is proposing to give school staff more power to search groups of pupils for weapons
Amendments to the Violent Crime Reduction Bill will also increase the maximum sentence for carrying a blade in public or at school without good reason from two to four years.
Currently school staff have the power to search pupils if they believe they are carrying a dangerous wapon.
But under new proposals they will have greater discretion to carry out searches.
The Violent Crime Reduction Bill will be discussed in the House of Lords on October 16 and 18.
William Graham AM today called on Education Minister Jane Davidson to explain how the proposals will be rolled out in schools in Wales and whether staff will be given training to carry out searches.
The South Wales East AM, who has 20 years’ experience as a magistrate, said:
“We support any proposals which make our schools safer places of learning.
“However, it is vital that the minister explains just how these Home Office proposals will be implemented in schools in Wales.
“Staff also need full training so they are able to carry out safe and effective checks on anyone they think may be carrying a weapon.
“This is vital to ensure the welfare of staff and pupils are not put at risk.
“I welcome the increased the maximum sentence for carrying a blade or point in public or in a school without good reason from two to four years.
“These measures will send out a clear message on the severity of this crime and that bringing weapons into schools will not be tolerated.
“In too many of our schools, discipline is weak, truancy rife and respect for others has broken down.
“We need to take action and tackle these problems head-on. This is too important an issue to ignore. Our children’s education is at stake.
“School discipline is at the heart of a good education system. Children must learn respect for others and for authority at an early age.
“Unless we take action now there is a serious danger that classroom violence will spiral out of control.”
ENDS
For further information, contact /
Os am wybodaeth bellach, cysylltwch â:
Richard Hazlewood
Chief Press Officer / Prif Swyddog Y Wasg
Welsh Conservatives / Ceidwadwyr Cymreig
029 2089 8395
07957 133832
richard.hazlewood@wales.gov.uk
Read our Assembly election campaign blog, Sky Blue Thinking at http://welshconservatives2007.blogspot.com
