Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions his Department has held with police forces on the investigation of incidents of attacks on teachers. [69118]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeFollowing the fatal stabbing of London head teacher, Philip Lawrence, in December 1995, the Working Group on School Security was established. The group continues to meet regularly to discuss a wide range of issues with security implications for schools, and includes representatives from the police and the Home Office.
The Department also worked closely with the police and the Home Office on the production of guidance on "School Security: Dealing With Troublemakers", which was issued in December 1997. This promotes close co-operation between schools and local police to create effective local partnerships, and encourages schools to adopt a system of recording and reporting all incidents.