More than 40 weapons, including knives, nitrous oxide canisters and BB guns, have been confiscated from pupils in Aberdeen schools since the start of the year, new figures have revealed.
A Freedom of Information response from Aberdeen City Council confirmed police were called to 43 separate incidents across primary and secondary schools between 1 January and 30 April 2024. Almost half of all items seized were knives, with reports citing Stanley knives, butterfly knives and razor blades among those recovered.
Other dangerous objects confiscated included multi-tools, scissors, sharpened sticks, bottle openers, potato peelers and even a compass. Twenty-four of the seizures took place in primary schools.
The findings follow a high-profile incident in April at Hazlehead Academy, where a 12-year-old girl was reportedly injured in an alleged knife attack.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary and North East MSP, Liam Kerr, said: “The high number of weapons being brought into schools across Aberdeen is frightening.
“These appalling figures highlight the epidemic of violence in schools – and the woeful level of government support being given to tackle this weapon-carrying culture.
“Children across Aberdeen deserve to learn in environments free from violence and disruption, and our teachers deserve to be protected from such horrifying incidents.
“But these atrocious findings underline the dangers in our schools, which can often lead to tragic consequences.
“The SNP government has allowed this growing crisis to spiral under its watch and must urgently give schools the resources they need to ensure there is always a zero-tolerance approach to violence in our classrooms.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said:
“Weapons should never be in our schools, and that is why we are working hard to clamp down on the carrying of weapons.”
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The city council has not issued a statement in relation to the figures but is understood to be continuing to work with Police Scotland to review school safety protocols and support services.
The revelations come amid wider concern across Scotland about rising levels of violence and disruption in schools, with calls growing for urgent and sustained investment in pupil welfare and staff protection.
