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23
Mar
Police reveal number of weapon offences in North Yorkshire schools
North Yorkshire Police has revealed the number of crimes committed in the county’s schools which involved weapons.
Following a freedom of information request, the force has published figures for weapons offences for those aged under 18 in a school over the last two years.
It also revealed data for specific violent offences at a place of education.
The force said in 2023 and 2024, there were four possession of weapons crimes that took place in a school or education premises.
Those crimes included possessing a knife, dagger or broken bottle.
Meanwhile, police also revealed that in 2023 and 2024 a total of 17 crimes at schools which were classed as common assault and battery, ABH, GBH and wounding with or without a weapon.
Tackling knife crime
James Farrar, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said the authority had drawn up a serious violence strategy which aims to tackle offences like knife crime.
He added that knife amnesty bins had also been rolled out across the county, including in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.
North Yorkshire's first knife bin was installed in the car-park on Dragon Road, near Asda, in January 2023, and in the two years since, more than 1,800 bladed items have been left in it.
Mr Farrar said:
Across York and North Yorkshire over the last year there were around 300 incidents involving knives.
Knife crime is a national problem and although our region has relatively low levels of this type of crime, the risk to our communities from knives is extremely serious.
Our new serious violence strategy for York and North Yorkshire sets out plans to tackle violent crime across York and North Yorkshire and ensure victims receive better protection.
These plans include the delivery of prevention and early intervention projects.
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