College staff need training in handling weapon-related incidents

Staff and students have suffered serious injuries as a result of offensive weapons being brought into colleges, according to a UNISON survey published today (Tuesday). Machetes, hammers, metal bars and even a gun are among the items either recovered or that have been used in pupil-on-pupil assaults, gang attacks or in violent incidents against staff, according to the survey. UNISON questioned hundreds of support staff, including canteen workers, learning support assistants and librarians, in both further education and sixth form colleges across the UK. The vast majority (90%) of respondents said they had received no training on dealing with teenagers who bring weapons into college. Almost a quarter (23%) felt weapon-related crime is a problem where they work, and a growing one in some cases. Serious incidents described by survey respondents include: Gang members armed with hammers chasing a 17-year-old student through a college. A male and female support worker had to act as human shields between the teenager and his assailants until security and police arrived A student dying from fatal chest wounds after being stabbed outside college Armed police were called after a student brought a gun onto campus Some of the staff who responded had actually been injured by a weapon that had been brought into college, while many others knew colleagues who had been harmed in incidents. Overall, one in five respondents (20%) admitted they didn’t feel safe at work. The responses present ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release education Jon Richards violence at work Source Type: news