Metal detectors in schools 'won't make children safer'

Sir Alan Steer rejected the idea that wider use of metal detectors at school gates would make children safer.

He acknowledged his remarks would be controversial but warned that "exaggerating" the problem of violent crime among teenagers could make it worse.

Sir Alan, head of Seven Kings High School in Ilford, was speaking to the Evening Standard as he published his latest report to ministers on classroom discipline. He called for new powers for teachers to be able to search pupils for drugs and alcohol.

But he refused to back more widespread searches for knives and guns in schools.

"Generally this is not a school problem," he said. "That doesn't mean schools don't have a responsibility to try to address it. But the vast majority of schools don't have knives. It's very rare for there to be a stabbing inside a school.

"We do need to be very careful we don't exaggerate the problem."

Sir Alan called for schools to develop relationships with the police, with more officers working on site for a few days a week. This would give pupils access to the police in a "relaxed" context. He said it was right for a school in "a particular area where there is a problem" to use metal detectors, but on police advice and with the support of parents.

"I can't see in most schools how it would work." He added that the recent spate of attacks, which has claimed the lives of 20 teenagers in London this year, was "horrifying".

"If we want to tackle this problem we want a mixture of policies - certainly tough sentencing and punishment but also intelligent intervention," he said. "There's nothing wrong with being tough. But a good dollop of love is no bad thing."

Children's Secretary Ed Balls welcomed the report and indicated he would legislate to bring in the extra search powers for drugs and alcohol.

School staff would also be able to search pupils for other inappropriate items such as cigarettes and stolen property.

Mr Balls said: "I want to build on the powers we have already given teachers following Sir Alan's earlier recommendations on searching for weapons by extending these to cover drugs, alcohol and other inappropriate items.

"It will ensure that everyone knows that a teacher's authority in the classroom is unquestionable and teachers are clear about their right to use them."

The Government has already introduced legislation to give schools the right to search pupils for knives and other weapons, as well as enabling them to screen them using arch and wand metal detectors.

In his report, Sir Alan expressed concern about alcohol, which he said was a bigger problem than drugs. He also called for schools to alert parents by text or email if children play truant. Sir Alan also suggests better training for teachers to deal with unruly behaviour, with more detailed recommendations to be published in his final report in the autumn.