Five-year-old caught with knife in Aberdeen school

A five-year-old boy has been caught with a knife in an Aberdeen primary school.

The report was received by police on 22 February.

The incident occurred at an unnamed school.

The knife is believed to have been brought from home by the child and was pulled out during the young pupil’s P1 class.

No charges will be laid, with the boy below the age of criminal responsibility.

Police Scotland said there would be a multi-agency response and support would be offered to those involved.

A teacher notified police after witnessing the child brandishing the blade.

Lib Dem councillor Martin Greig said: He hasn’t been at school for long so he didn’t fully appreciate what he was doing.

“This is a worrying incident.”

Aberdeen City Council have said they are aware of the incident.

The Scotsman revealed in January ten pupils at schools across Scotland are being caught carrying knives every month.

Police Scotland figures showed 80 school pupils were found with knives on school premises between the start of April and the end of November last year.

There were a further 19 cases of knives being used in “other criminal activity” at schools and 45 cases where pupils were found carrying an offensive weapon.

Despite the tragic killing of teenager Bailey Gwynne at Cults Academy in Aberdeen, children attending schools in the north-east of Scotland were among the most likely to be caught with knives.

The 16-year-old died in October 2015 after being attacked by another pupil.

A report found his death could have been avoided if his classmates had told teachers his killer was carrying a knife.

The statistics showed 11 pupils attending schools in the north-east were caught with knives over the eight-month period – the joint highest figure alongside the Lothians and Scottish Borders.