South Yorkshire Police have charged a teenager after three people were injured with a sharp object at the Birley Academy secondary school in Sheffield on Wednesday morning
A teenager has been charged after three people were injured at a Sheffield secondary school.
The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Wednesday morning following reports of an incident involving a “sharp object” at Birley Academy. Two women, both in their 20s, and a child suffered minor injuries that did not need hospital treatment. Officers aid the victims were checked over by paramedics at the school and that that child had “no visible injuries.” The school was put into lockdown during the attack, with many parents rushing to the gates to collect their children.
Following his arrest, the 17-year-old was also charged with possession of a blade or sharply pointed article on a school premises. He was remanded in custody. The teenage accused is set to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. On Wednesday, police said the sharp object was believed to be a piece of broken glass.
School head Victoria Hall told reporters on Wednesday: “I just wanted to thank all of our students and staff who helped manage the situation this morning, and our staff who prioritised the safety and wellbeing of all of our students.” Hall also praised the students’ for their “exemplary behaviour.”
South Yorkshire Police also heaped praise on school staff for their actions during the “frightening ordeal,” adding they “helped keep the school community safe.” The attack happened just one week after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire, in south-west Wales.
According to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, in the year ending March 2023 thousands of children cautioned or sentenced for knife or offensive weapon offences. It added there were just under 3,400 cautions or sentences within the time period, which is four per cent fewer than the previous year, but 23 per cent higher than 10 years ago.
“In the latest year, the majority (98 per cent) of knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children were possession offences and the remaining two per cent were threatening with a knife or offensive weapon offences,” it added. “These proportions have remained broadly stable over the years.”
The number of children sentenced to immediate custody decreased from seven per cent to six per cent in the last year. This was the lowest proportion seen across the last 10 years. Overall, there were just over 11,900 occasions where children were sentenced in the year ending March 2023. This is eight per cent higher than the previous year.