The north’s police chief has moved to reassure parents and pupils after two teenagers were charged with carrying knives at a Highland secondary school.
Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, the outgoing area commander, pledged yesterday that the “main aim” of the police, council and school workers was to protect youngsters.
He made the remarks after the Press and Journal revealed yesterday that two Inverness High School pupils had been reported to the children’s panel following an incident on Tuesday afternoon.
Police were called to the school when the teenagers were found to be in possession of the offensive weapons.
No one was injured and there are not believed to be any claims that the pupils were brandishing the knives or threatening to use them.
Chief Superintendent Innes, who is due to retire next month, said officers had been working with school staff since the incident.
He told the Press and Journal: “Our colleagues in the Highland Council education department and Police Scotland have been working very closely over the course of the last few days.
“We have been having an on-going conversation prior to the widely reported event in Inverness and these conversations will continue.
“Our main aim collectively is to make our schools in this area as safe as possible.”
Inverness High School head teacher James Rutter wrote to all parents this week informing them of the incident, and reassuring them that pupil safety was a priority.
A police officer is due to visit the school in the coming days to speak to youngsters in the wake of the charges.
The incident emerged as school staff across the country remained on high alert following the tragic death of Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne in October.
His killer – a fellow Cults Academy pupil – was locked up for nine years for stabbing him earlier this month.
There have been a series of recent incidents in north and north-east schools in the months since the tragedy.
A primary school in Caithness issued advice to parents after a pupil brought a penknife to school to show classmates.
Last week, a teenager understood to be a pupil at Milne’s High in Fochabers was charged amid claims that threats were made to carry out a bombing and shooting attack at the school.
A pupil was excluded from the same secondary last month after taking a knife into the building.
In Turriff, meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy is awaiting sentence after admitting assaulting a schoolboy and carrying a weapon.
Aberdeen City Council’s education vice-convener Alan Donnelly said the incidents had led to heightened anxiety in schools.