Ask young people about their view of the scale of the knife problem.
Doug McEvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said surveys show the number of weapons being brought into schools is "absolutely minuscule". On the other hand, the acting head of the Youth Justice Board, Sir Charles Pollard, says weapon carrying has become widespread.
Who is right? What is young people's experience? Is the problem getting worse?
Pollard says around 200 schools where students regularly carry knives should have permanent full-time uniformed police officers stationed in them. Would young people welcome that? Are there any better alternatives? Another proposal is for metal detectors in schools to check for young people attempting to smuggle in knives or guns. Would this help?
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