Risk Warning: Threat to Schools

We are concerned at the number of reports circulating about lone individuals, who aren’t terrorists, who may or may not be autistic, with or without mental health issues, but are obsessed by extreme violence, and that a threat to schools exists as they may be a legitimate target for them.

During the Easter pupil break the following news item appeared:

A teenage boy has been arrested after a “threat of violence” was reportedly made against a school in east London, forcing a nursery to close. South Yorkshire police said the boy, 17, had been detained on suspicion of malicious communications. He remains in police custody.

St Mary’s School in Walthamstow closed its doors on Monday morning to ensure teachers and staff remained safe after receiving a threat via email.In an email sent to parents shortly after 7.30am, St Mary’s explained it had received the threat, saying it referred to “committing acts of violence to those on our premises” along with several other schools.

The school said: “We are working closely with the police and following their advice and guidance to ensure the safety of our children and staff.”It added: “We have currently closed the nursery this morning and we will provide further updates as we receive them.”The primary school added that the safety of its children and staff was its “top priority”.

In a statement the Met Police said it was also investigating threats against a school on Brooke Road, Walthamstow, but added they were not being treated as credible “at this stage”.

The busy primary school, which has the capacity for 630 pupils, was closed for the Easter holidays, but the nursery, which operates on the same site, was due to welcome children.St Mary’s Nursery has space for over 100 children, according to its latest Ofsted inspection.

London Standard News item – click to read

This threat to schools is not an isolated incident there have been other incidents across the country in recent months.

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At DS we say: Our first ‘Briefing’ of the term will include details of the new Martyn’s Law. Do look out for it shortly. One aspect in that is efficient Lockdown and the potential for Scatter.

At DS we have been encouraging such approaches for a considerable time and hope you have them in place, just in case. We also suggest that off the back of the above report, and others, there may be copycat, but not necessarily credible threats from others to be ready for.

Hopefully that is of assistance? Of course, if we can be of help contact us at: info@delegatedservices.org

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