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Hike in knives found inside Hackney schools: Youngest offender aged just 11
The knife seized in a school, which a 14-year-old had concealed in his bag - Credit: Archant
The number of knives seized inside Hackney schools has soared this term, with the youngest offender aged just 11, the Gazette can reveal.
Another child, 14, was kept in a police cell overnight because the kitchen blade he had hidden in his bag, pictured, was so large – nine inches long.
Police have criticised the “appallingly low” sentence handed to the teenager, who they believed was “on the edge of getting involved in a lot of trouble”.
They say it sends the wrong message to youngsters thinking about taking knives into schools – where the “safer schools” police team found seven secondary school pupils with knives in as many weeks.
The tally for each half-term period is typically between one and three.
But officers don’t know why the figure has peaked.
Some kids said they had been afraid of “killer clowns” – a bizarre phenomenon that saw a handful of violent attacks perpetrated by people in clown costumes across Britain in the run-up to Halloween.
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The knife was found on the 14-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – after a random search at his school.
The child was arrested and kept in a cell at Stoke Newington police station before appearing at Stratford Youth Court the next day, where he admitted possession of an offensive weapon. He was given a six-month referral order and a £20 bill.
“Not a lot, really,” said Hackney schools officer Sgt Ian Turner.
“The sentence was appalling. With young people it’s not the general practice to keep them in custody overnight, but in this instance I would say it sent out a stronger message than the sentencing.
“Keeping him in custody has to be approved by the Crown Prosecution Service and it’s very unusual to keep a 14-year-old in custody with no previous convictions. It was lucky the knife was found. It could have saved someone’s life.”
