Safety arches set up to catch weapons at Dudley school
The arches will be rolled out at other schools in the coming weeks
A school in Dudley has had a safety arch implemented this week, to catch weapons coming into school grounds.
Students at St James Academy will have to walk through the detectors each morning they enter the school.
West Midlands Police said they were put in to make students and staff feel safe.
They said the arches can detect weapons and even vapes being brought into school.
The scheme will be rolled out to other schools over the coming weeks.
Inspector Sarah Long, of West Midlands Police Dudley Partnerships Team, said: “The addition of these screening arches is just one way we’re working with our partners to keep our young people safe.
“It’s a great way to collaboratively work with the Dudley Academies Trust and the individual schools to continue the work we already do to educate young people on the dangers of knife crime.
“The arches are a positive and preventative way of working with the trust to give children, staff, and those visiting the schools that added peace of mind and it’s great to see that it’s received such an overwhelming amount of support from parents and the school.
“Across Dudley, we’re seeing a reduction in knife crime and figures show it remains the safest region in the borough.
“By installing arches like this in schools it’s a great way to continue keeping our communities safe and keep seeing that reduction in knife crime.
“We know that knife crime devastates lives, families, and communities, and we are committed to working with our partners to protect people whether that’s through education, enforcement, or support.”
Jo Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of Dudley Academies Trust, said: “It is important to view the security screens in the context of our personal development education programme. Our learners need to have a clear understanding of their community and the risks posed by knife crime.
“We are committed to ensuring that they can think critically about the issues they face, articulate their views confidently and know how to seek help and support if they encounter negative or exploitative influences.
“The presence of security screens means that no learner will feel pressured to carry a knife or bladed item out of fear as they can be assured that their schools will not be places where others can be in possession of such items.
"Above all, we are committed to ensuring that our schools will always be safe and secure environments where our learners can focus on their learning and flourish.”