Letters have been sent to parents after a primary school pupil was caught carrying a knife on a school bus in the Highlands.
The blade was confiscated from the pupil by the driver and police have confirmed that no one was hurt during the incident in the Badenoch and Strathspey area on Friday.
One parent last night described it as “worrying” and claimed it was part of a trend that should be “stamped out at an early age”.
It emerged in the wake of recent figures which revealed that five offensive weapons – three of which were knives – were brought into Highland schools last year, the highest in at least a decade.
And police were also called in May when a child took a knife into a primary school in Inverness.
A Highland Council spokeswoman said school staff followed correct protocols in handling and reporting the latest incident and that the school would be reinforcing safety messages to parents and pupils.
Last night, a police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that we were made aware of an incident on a bus travelling to a primary school in the Badenoch and Strathspey area on Friday, September 15.
“A knife was confiscated from a pupil on the bus and was never taken onto school grounds.
“This was an isolated incident – nobody was injured and there was no risk to the school community or the wider public.
“Officers will be working in partnership with the school and Highland Council to investigate the incident and provide suitable guidance to all involved.”
The letter to parents and carers states: “I am writing to inform you that a pupil travelled on a school bus today carrying a small knife.
“The driver confiscated the knife and the incident was brought to the attention of the school staff.
“The matter was discussed with the pupil and parent and appropriate consequences have been put in place.”
It comes just days after Chief Superintendent George MacDonald, divisional commander for the Highlands and Islands, revealed plans for a crackdown on weapons in Highland schools.
He said he would be using his experience from serving in Aberdeen, where 16-year-old Bailey Gwynne was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil during a fight at Cults Academy two years ago, as he works with local education chiefs to implement a new policy.
Yesterday, one parent who received a letter said: “Given the current climate and what happened in Aberdeen, it’s worrying that this has happened in a Highland primary school.
“The school has to take some form of responsibility and do more than just send out a letter to parents.
“This is the thin edge of a wedge. More kids have started taking knives into school and it’s something that needs to be stamped out at an early age.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain said it was “incredible” that a child so young was found in possession of a knife.
He added: “I just think it’s a sad reflection on where we are and I would urge parents and teachers to stress to children that it’s unacceptable.”
