FOI 426159
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 426159
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 11th August 2025. Please find below the response to your request:
Please provide the following information broken down by the school academic years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
1 - The number of pupils aged 18 and under recorded as being in possession of an offensive weapon on a school premises (primary and secondary schools only) during the academic years outlined above.
2 – Please provide a breakdown of the number of offences which took place in a primary school setting and the number of offences which took place in a secondary school setting
2- A list of the type of weapons involved - i.e – knife, machete, knuckle duster, firearm, hammer etc
3 – A breakdown of the ages of pupils involved provided in the following two age categories:
Age 4-11
Age 12-18
4 – The age of the youngest pupil recorded as being in possession of an offensive weapon on school premises (primary and secondary schools only) for the academic years outlined above (this does not need to be broken down by academic year) and the type of weapon involved.
Reply
West Mercia Police hold some of the requested information.
Caveat:
We are unable to confirm if the suspects were pupils at the location where the offence is reported to have occurred as this is not recorded.
1 - The number of pupils aged 18 and under recorded as being in possession of an offensive weapon on a school premises (primary and secondary schools only) during the academic years outlined above.
|
Number of persons aged 18 or under linked in a suspect role to a relevant offence |
School Year (Sep to Jul) |
Grand Total |
||
|
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
||
|
Having an article with a blade or point on school/further education premises. |
19 |
20 |
13 |
52 |
|
Possession of other offensive weapon on school/further education premises. |
12 |
3 |
5 |
20 |
|
Threaten with a blade or sharply pointed article on school/further education premises. |
3 |
5 |
6 |
14 |
|
Threaten with an offensive weapon on school/further education premises. |
2 |
2 |
||
|
Grand Total |
34 |
28 |
26 |
88 |
2 – Please provide a breakdown of the number of offences which took place in a primary school setting and the number of offences which took place in a secondary school setting
No information held. We are unable to split the offences between Primary and Secondary schools as this information is not recorded on our system.
2- A list of the type of weapons involved - i.e – knife, machete, knuckle duster, firearm, hammer etc
|
Description of weapons linked to offences where a suspect aged 18 or under linked is linked to a relevant offence |
|
|
|
Baton |
||
|
Blade |
||
|
File |
||
|
Hacksaw Blade |
||
|
Hammer |
||
|
Handgun |
||
|
Jigsaw Blade |
||
|
Knife |
||
|
Knuckle Duster |
||
|
Piece of wood |
||
|
Razor Blade |
||
|
Remote |
||
|
Scissors |
||
|
Screwdriver |
||
|
Screwdriver & Knife |
||
|
Shank |
||
|
Stanley Knife |
3 – A breakdown of the ages of pupils involved provided in the following two age categories:
Age 4-11
Age 12-18
|
Age range of persons aged 18 or under linked in a suspect role to a relevant offence |
School Year (Sep to Jul) |
Grand Total |
||
|
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
||
|
4 to 11 |
24 |
21 |
18 |
63 |
|
12 to 18 |
10 |
7 |
8 |
25 |
|
Grand Total |
34 |
28 |
26 |
88 |
4 – The age of the youngest pupil recorded as being in possession of an offensive weapon on school premises (primary and secondary schools only) for the academic years outlined above (this does not need to be broken down by academic year) and the type of weapon involved.
|
Age of youngest suspect |
Weapon |
||
|
8 Years |
Knife |