FOI 452329
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 452329
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 15th January 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
For the last 3 full calendar years (2023/24/25) and for as much of 2026 as possible please can you supply:
1. The number of pupils found in school with a weapon or dangerous implement. Please break down according to primary/secondary school.
2. The number and type of weapons or dangerous implements seized from schools. Please break down according to primary/secondary.
3. The number and age of school pupils charged with offences relating to possession of a weapon or dangerous implement.
4. The number who were then prosecuted in court, given a caution or no further action was taken.
5. Of those who were prosecuted, the type of punishment handed down.
Reply
West Mercia Police hold some of the information you have requested
1. The number of pupils found in school with a weapon or dangerous implement. Please break down according to primary/secondary school.
|
Primary Full Offence Titles of identified offences
|
Calendar Year
|
Grand Total
|
||
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
||
|
Having an article with a blade or point on school/further education premises.
|
19
|
14
|
12
|
45
|
|
Possession of other offensive weapon on school/further education premises.
|
9
|
5
|
4
|
18
|
|
Threaten with a blade or sharply pointed article on school/further education premises.
|
1
|
9
|
6
|
16
|
|
Threaten with an offensive weapon on school/further education premises.
|
4
|
4
|
||
|
Grand Total
|
29
|
28
|
26
|
83
|
|
Number of suspects linked to identified offences
|
Calendar Year
|
Grand Total
|
||
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
||
|
Number of suspects
|
30
|
29
|
24
|
83
|
We are unable to confirm if the suspects are pupils at the school where they were found in possession of the weapon as this information is not recorded on our system
We are unable to break the information down by primary/secondary or first/middle/high as we do not make this distinction on our systems.
2. The number and type of weapons or dangerous implements seized from schools. Please break down according to primary/secondary.
|
Weapon described in incident summary in identified offences
|
Calender Year
|
Grand Total
|
||
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
||
|
Blade
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
Crowbar
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
File
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Flick Knife
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Golf Fork
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Hacksaw Blade
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Hammer
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Handgun
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Javelin
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Jigsaw Blade
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Knife
|
19
|
18
|
14
|
51
|
|
Knuckle Duster
|
3
|
3
|
||
|
Lock Knife
|
2
|
2
|
||
|
Piece of wood
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Razor Blade
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
|
Scissors
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
|
Screwdriver
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Shank
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
Stanley Knife
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
|
Unknown
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Grand Total
|
29
|
28
|
26
|
83
|
Please note that this information only relates to recorded crimes. It is possible that weapons were found/seized from a school premises but no crime was established. Such property seizures are recorded on our property management system however it cannot be extracted by location type and therefore we are unable to provide this information.
3. The number and age of school pupils charged with offences relating to possession of a weapon or dangerous implement.
15
4. The number who were then prosecuted in court, given a caution or no further action was taken.
|
Outcomes of investigations of identified offences
|
Calender Year
|
Grand Total
|
||
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
||
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Type 2 - Caution Youth
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime)
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Type 11 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Below The Age Of Criminal Responsibility
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action
|
12
|
5
|
5
|
22
|
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
|
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available
|
1
|
1
|
||
|
Type 20 - Further action resulting from the crime report will be undertaken by another body or agency subject to the victim (or person acting on their behalf) being made aware of the act to be taken
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
12
|
|
Type 21 - Further investigation resulting from crime report which could provide evidence sufficient to support formal action against the suspect is not in the public interest - police decision.
|
3
|
3
|
||
|
Type 22 - Diversionary, educational or intervention activity, resulting from the crime report, has been undertaken and it is not in the public interest to take any further action.
|
7
|
11
|
5
|
23
|
|
Ongoing Investigation
|
3
|
3
|
||
|
Grand Total
|
29
|
28
|
26
|
83
|
Our crime management system only allows us to record one outcome per investigation. Where there is more than one suspect linked to an investigation it is closed with the highest outcome. Our crime management system does not record the specific action taken against each suspect. Therefore for question 4 I have provided the number of investigations closed with each outcome as opposed to the number of persons who have had said action taken against them
5. Of those who were prosecuted, the type of punishment handed down.
This information will be held by the court