A community leader has insisted there is no “knife culture” at an Inverness school where a pupil has been charged in connection with possessing a weapon.
The unidentified youngster has been reported to the children’s reporter in the wake of an incident earlier this week at Culloden Academy.
Police confirmed that officers had visited Culloden Academy in response to a reported disturbance outwith the school grounds after which a boy was reported to the children’s reporter.
“No-one was injured,” the spokeswoman said.
Local Liberal Democrat councillor Carolyn Caddick, whose two sons both attended the school, leapt to the academy’s defence.
“I’m not aware that they’ve ever had an issue with knives before,” she said. “I’m slightly alarmed and very surprised to hear of this incident. It’s a great school.
“I’m sure it’s a one-off incident. I know these things don’t happen there on a regular basis. Hopefully it won’t be an issue going forward.”
The academy’s head teacher James Vance stated in a letter to parents and carers that there was an incident at lunchtime on Wednesday involving pupils in Culloden Avenue, “outwith the grounds of Culloden Academy,” which was immediately reported to the police.
He said: “A child has been reported to the children’s reporter in connection with the possession of a bladed article, therefore I cannot comment further on the incident at this time.
“Such incidents are rare. However, the school takes such incidents extremely seriously and will be holding a special assembly next week to provide advice to pupils.”
It is unclear if any pupil has been suspended as a result of the incident.
In March 2016, the Scottish Government increased the powers of courts to deal with people convicted of carrying a knife so they could sentence up to five years in custody, up from four years. That applies in schools as well as public places.
It is illegal to sell knives or similar products with blades or points to anyone under the age of 18, and illegal to sell cutlery and kitchen knives to those under 16.
