Tories call for action to stop school arson attacks
Joe Lepper
Friday, May 22, 2009
Police have been called into schools 3,000 times over the past two years to deal with arson attacks, according to latest figures obtained by the Conservative Party.
The Conservatives are using the figures to back their campaign to strengthen teachers' powers to stop and search pupils.
The party is seeking to amend the Apprenticeships, Children, Skills and Learning Bill in the House of Lords to give head teachers new powers to search for and confiscate potentially dangerous items, such as lighters and matches.
Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "The large number of arson attacks, on top of all the other problems in schools, is deeply worrying." He added that a Conservative government would go even further and repeal current guidance that tells teachers not to search pupils who refuse to be searched.
However, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) is concerned that the proposals could put teachers at risk.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower says teachers should have a general power to search pupils but need protection from reprisals.
"It must be remembered that teachers are not law enforcement officers and they have no reason to risk assault upon them by insisting on searching a pupil who is capable of a violent reaction," she said.
The NUT is also calling for installation of sprinkler systems in all new school buildings, which it says would cut restoration costs.
