Handheld scanners will be used to search children suspected of having a weapon in Cardiff schools under new guidance.
The guidelines, which are thought to be the first of their kind in Wales, deal with what happens when a child is thought to be carrying a weapon, and the next steps if one is found.
Cardiff council said it had been designed after calls by head teachers for up-to-date advice to keep students and staff safe, following growing concerns about knife crime in schools.
Sarah Merry, the council’s cabinet member for education, said while she understood parents “may feel anxious about the idea of searches”, they would not be part of a daily school routine or “done lightly”.
In 2013, the Welsh government introduced a power which allowed schools in Wales to screen pupils for a knife or other weapons, and to search pupils suspected of carrying a weapon.
New guidance sent to parents in Cardiff states a search may be necessary if staff have a “reasonable” suspicion that a young person has a weapon in school.
During a search, it added two members of staff would be present, and that in most cases a “search wand” would be used to remove any physical contact.
“Parents or carers will be informed following a search and the reasons for the search will be explained,” the guidance adds, with the purpose of the search also explained to the student.
Under the guidelines, if a weapon is found then an incident review meeting should be arranged within five school days of the incident with “at least one daily welfare check”.
The young person should not be allowed to go to school until this meeting has taken place, while a “trauma-informed investigation” would then take place to understand why the young people brought the weapon into school and the next steps that should be taken.
According to Cardiff council, the guidelines recognise “there are often complex reasons why a young person might carry a weapon” and encourages schools to work with families and other services so support can be put in place.
The guidelines have been rolled out to all primary, secondary and special schools after being developed through consultation with children, and co-produced with partners including South Wales Police, youth services and violence prevention experts.
Merry, who is also council deputy leader, said: “Head teachers have been asking for revised support in this area and it’s absolutely right that we’ve worked closely with them to create something practical and useful.
“It is also part of our review following incidents in other parts of the country and gives schools the tools they need to keep everyone safe – it’s not about creating fear; it’s about building confidence.”
As well as guidance on weapons, each school in Cardiff has appointed a violence prevention lead, who are senior staff members that will take part in specialist training to prepare them for real-life situations involving weapons or threats to safety.
Other actions taken to keep schools safe include lockdown rehearsals to help schools prepare for emergencies, and using the curriculum to “build a culture of respect and safety”.
