FIVE children in one of Scotland's wealthiest suburbs have been reported to the Children's Panel for the illegal possession of knives – one of them for taking a weapon to the local secondary school.
A crackdown on knife crime in the Aberdeen commuter-belt town of Westhill was launched last month after a pupil was reported to police for being in possession of a knife at the local academy.
As a result of the force's investigation, a further fo
ur children – all pre-teens – have been found to have been regularly carrying knives.
Westhill is a busy town, and a new business estate on its outskirts is home to many of the North Sea's leading oil service companies.
Five years ago, police and community leaders joined forces to crack down on unruly behaviour after the area was hit by an alarming increase in underage drinking and antisocial crime by young people.
The latest incidents involving knife-carrying children has shocked community leaders.
Stewart Whyte, the chairman of Westhill and Elrick Community Council, said:
"This has come right across Britain to the North-east and has to be treated really seriously before it takes hold.
"You hear kids claim that they carry them for protection, but if you stamp it out right from the beginning, they will no longer feel the need to do it. It's really worrying."
Inspector Bob Thomson, of Grampian Police, said the original incident investigated by the force had involved a "very young teenager" who was found in possession of a knife at Westhill Academy. It had not been used or brandished in any way.
He said: "The staff at the academy, with whom we routinely work very closely, contacted us.
"As a result, my officers carried out a thorough inquiry, which revealed that another four pre-teen children had historically been in possession of knives in public areas of the town, although not at the school, and no incidents or occurrences happened at these times.
"These children have all been reported to the Reporter, due to the serious manner in which the possession of a knife, in any circumstances, is viewed."
He went on: "My officers have been working with the school to emphasise the risks associated with knife crime. Young children sometimes do not fully appreciate these risks, which is why education is so important.
"Community officers and the school have their parts to play, but so do parents and the wider public.
"If we are to build strong and safe communities, we must all accept our individual and collective responsibilities. I would ask local parents to speak to their children and make it clear that it is wholly unacceptable to carry a knife, or any sort of weapon, in a public place."
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "The safety of pupils and staff in our schools is our highest priority.
"If an incident occurs where a pupil is found to be carrying a weapon, appropriate action is taken."
The full article contains 501 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
