'Shocking' haul of weapons seized at Oldbury secondary school
It is a shocking collection of weapons – and they have all been confiscated from teenage pupils at a single school in Oldbury.
BB guns were taken as well as a knuckle duster and potentially lethal knives.
Detectives today released this image to illustrate the challenge they face in dealing with young people who feel the need to arm themselves.
Officers said the haul was collected over a six-month period at a secondary school.
The stockpile, which includes five BB guns, a bladed knuckleduster and an assortment of knives, has been labelled as ‘very concerning’ by a Midlands police chief.
While police said they would not name the school in question, officers confirmed it was a high school in the Oldbury area.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the haul was a startling example of why education was crucial in warning young people of the dangers of gun and knife crime.
Mr Jamieson told the Express & Star: “This is very concerning.
“Educational work at schools, which focuses on gun and knife crime, is vital if we are going to make sure young people make the right choices.
“A decision by a young person to carry a weapon can lead to horrific circumstances.
“It is vital we warn children at a young age of the dangers they face from carrying knives or guns and stress they have a choice to make.
“That is why I fund work in schools every day of the year and looking to increase the resources I put into moving young people away from carrying weapons and committing violence.”
Officers say the weapons were among items confiscated by teachers in the day-to-day running of a school. It is feared many more have been carried unnoticed by pupils attending lessons on a daily basis.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “The guns are spring-operated BB guns.
“The weapons were taken off children at school by teachers in the course of their daily duties and subsequently handed over to police.
“We will not be disclosing that school’s identity.”
The release of the photograph comes amid increasing concern that it is now becoming the norm for teenagers to arm themselves. It is a trend that has led to a sharp increase in knife crime in the region.
Oldbury Police tweeted the photo and said: “Items handed to police by a local high school after being seized from pupils over a six-month period. Quite shocking. All to be destroyed.”
