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Knives in schools

Posted by: Michael Smith | 17 February, 2010 - 1:35 PM

Think we don’t have a problem with knives in Queensland?

Think there’s no problem with knives in schools and colleges?

Think again.

Queensland Police Service has released figures that show for the 2008/09 year more than one knife offence occurred in Queensland’s education locations per school week.

None of the 46 offences were for a charge of simply possessing a knife. These are serious offences where a knife was used.

The total of 46 includes 18 life endangering acts involving a knife.

Plus 23 assaults with a knife.

Plus 3 sexual assaults involving a knife.

And 2 armed robberies involving a knife.

All of them at education locations right here in Queensland.

And the trend is more disturbing.

In 2007/08 the total was 34.

In 2008/09 the number increased by 35% to 46 offences.

Knife use is on the rise with more than one incident in an education location each school week, including primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, university and TAFE colleges.

What’s driving it?

What is your experience of it?

And most importantly what needs to be done about it?

Download Report Here

Blog comments

Violence is everywhere for the kids, look on TV, news reports, violent movies violent video games. Then you have the american culture influencing the kids. This week an innocent defenceless man in one of the southern states got beaten to death by a couple low lifes with a hammer. Where is the punishment to fit this type of crime. I have raised 2 lots of kids and I too now am concerned and I can handle myself. It may be a status symbol for some to have knives but for others I don't doubt they consider they are protecting themselves. Who the hell is going to protect you or your child if they are attacked. Certainly not a lot of passerby's, they don't want to get involved. By the time the police get to you they have to do the cleaning up. So who is going to protect themselves if we don't and how??? You tell me.

John Tuesday 23 February, 2010 - 9:26 PM
i think knives at schools is increasing at an alarming rate, people think its cool to have aknife and i think thats the problem

Shane Tweed Friday 19 February, 2010 - 11:44 AM
this is absolutely ridiculous, not only is it on the rise, younger and younger people are becoming more involved.

shane tweed Thursday 18 February, 2010 - 4:41 PM
spot on peter hanson ! any decent human being would realise its becoming more and more tragic not only the stabbings but what is bringing these kids at that age to do these things ?? total neglagence on behave of our ever promising always smiling, nothings wrong ana bligh

john Thursday 18 February, 2010 - 1:08 PM
Several yrs ago our 12 yr old son took a knife to school. He's a very good kid, with no leaning towards violence. But on this day he took it, scared a kid with it and we quietly withdrew him from the school, nothing more said.
I feel terribly sad for the boy who died - but I also feel sad for the parents of the one who did it. A split second of 12 yr old madness does not neccesarily mean the kid is a troubled, mean kid. Speaking from experience, it was more likely to be a compulsive 'rush of blood' action that has just had the most catastrophic ending. Sad on every level.

'Derek' Thursday 18 February, 2010 - 11:30 AM
I'm sure the parents of the deceased child would be pleased to learn that the Police Commissioner said that "we don't believe that violence in schools has significantly increased".
This is just denial. We don't want to say to our kids, "have you packed your lunch? don't forget your knives"
There is no place for knives in our schools.
Are we to do nothing with the risk we may follow what is happening in some places in the U.S.
Isn't it better to nip it in the bud before more children are injured?
I know all the statistics revealed yesterday, I also know some children carry knives to school and have never used them, yet.

Albert Thursday 18 February, 2010 - 11:16 AM