£2m bill for cost of vandalism in schools

Almost £2 million has been spent repairing damage caused by vandalism at schools across the region in the last three years, new figures show.

Schools in Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall and Staffordshire have been targeted by yobs vandalising buildings by breaking windows and wrecking classrooms.

Last year Wallbrook Primary in Bradleys Lane, Coseley, had to step up security after vandals wrecked an outdoor classroom causing £4,000 worth of damage.

In another attack, louts left a trail of blood and destruction at Northwood Park Primary in Bushbury, Wolverhampton, knocking over bookcases, raiding a fridge and throwing books out of cupboards. Numerous windows were also smashed in the attack in September 2008.

Vandals also smashed their way into Coppice Performing Arts School in Wednesfield in January 2008 before starting a fire.

New figures released under the Freedom of Information act show much each council has spent on repairing vandalism between April 2007 and March 2010.

The most has been forked out by Wolverhampton City Council, which had to spend £939,821.

The figures are based on claims that have been dealt with by the authority's insurance section.

Sandwell Council paid out £878,922 for the schools which buy into its repair and maintenance scheme.

For schools within the Staffordshire County Council area, the total paid out was £139,147 while in Walsall just over £77,000 was spent, with just under half claimed back on insurance.

Council chiefs say steps have been taken to slash the number of vandalisms at schools and that the number of incidents is dropping.

Councillor Bob Badham, cabinet members for children and families at Sandwell Council, said: "We take vandalism at schools very seriously and have security in place around the borough which has paid off as the reduction in the figures show only too well.

"The majority of the schools that suffered vandalism have, subsequently, improved security which has led to a reduction in the number of incidents."

Dudley and Birmingham councils said they did not hold information on vandalism costs at schools.