Knife Crime Awareness in Schools: What Staff in Wales Need to Know
Knife crime awareness in schools means helping staff understand why some young people carry knives, what the law allows schools to do, and how to respond safely when a weapon is suspected. Most young people never carry a knife, but the few who do are often frightened, exploited or trying to protect themselves. A calm, well-rehearsed response protects learners and staff. It also gives the school a chance to understand what led the young person to carry a weapon in the first place. This guide covers recent changes to knife law, the search powers available to schools in Wales, the warning signs to look for and a practical response when a weapon is suspected. Please note: This article provides general information, not legal or case-specific advice. Follow your school's behaviour, searching, safeguarding and emergency procedures and the Welsh Government guidance that applies to your setting. The scenario is a fictional learning example. The reasons are rarely about wanting to hurt someone. Common factors include: Carrying a knife increases the risk of serious harm, including to the young person carrying it. A young person who is being criminally exploited may also be told to hold weapons for others. Our guide to child criminal exploitation explains the wider signs. Knife law in England and Wales has tightened in several stages: Some of the 2026 measures need further regulations before they take effect. The Home Office factsheet on knife crime sets out the detail. It is already an offence to have a bladed or sharply pointed article on school premises without good reason or lawful authority. The Home Office reports 50,430 knife or sharp instrument offences in England and Wales in the year to September 2025, down 9% on the previous year. Yes. In November 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Education confirmed to the Senedd that headteachers can search a pupil without consent where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have a knife or other weapon. Schools can also screen pupils for weapons without any suspicion. Searching for other prohibited items, such as drugs, requires the pupil's consent. If a pupil refuses, staff can repeat the request with a parent, carer or, where appropriate, the police present. Any search must follow your school's policy and the Welsh Government's guidance on safe and effective intervention. Only staff authorised by the headteacher should search, and every search should be recorded. New national resources are on the way. In February 2026, the Welsh Government announced all-Wales resources for weapons incidents in schools, based on Cardiff Council's Weapons in Schools and Education Settings (WISES) protocol. They are due to be fully available in 2027. No single sign proves a learner is carrying a weapon. Look for patterns and changes, and share concerns with your designated safeguarding person: Learners often know before staff do. A culture where young people feel able to tell a trusted adult, without being labelled a “grass”, is one of the strongest protections a school can have. Your school's protocol takes priority. These steps reflect a safety-first approach. 1. Keep yourself and others safe Stay calm, keep a safe distance and move other learners away if you can. Do not try to grab a weapon or wrestle it from anyone. 2. Get help immediately Alert a senior leader and the designated safeguarding person. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 and use your emergency procedure. Our guide to school lockdown procedures covers when to lock down. 3. Use calm, clear language If it is safe to speak, keep instructions short. Try: “I can see you're worried. I need you to put the bag down on the table and step back so we can sort this out.” 4. Leave searching to authorised staff An authorised member of staff should carry out any search in line with the guidance, with another adult present. Hand any weapon found to the police. 5. Record what happened Write down what was seen and said, who was present and what action was taken, as soon as possible. 6. Treat it as a safeguarding concern Ask why the learner carried a weapon. Consider exploitation, threats from others and harm at home, and make a referral to children's services where needed. The situation: A Year 9 learner quietly tells a teaching assistant that her friend has “something sharp” in his bag because older boys have been waiting for him after school. A useful response: “Thank you for telling me. You've done the right thing. I'm going to pass this on straight away so we can keep him and everyone else safe.” The teaching assistant tells the designated safeguarding person immediately and records the learner's words. A senior leader decides on the next step, which may include a search by authorised staff and contacting the police. Avoid confronting the boy in front of others or promising the friend that her name will not come up. Instead, explain that staff will handle it as safely and discreetly as possible. Awareness sessions work best when they focus on real choices, safe ways to get help and the support available. Messages built mainly on fear can backfire if they suggest that carrying a knife is common. Useful prevention work includes: Can teachers in Wales search pupils for knives without consent? Yes, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a pupil has a knife or other weapon. The headteacher authorises which staff can search, and schools should follow Welsh Government guidance and their own policy. Is it illegal to bring a knife into school? Yes. It is an offence to have a bladed or sharply pointed article on school premises without good reason or lawful authority. Small folding pocketknives are treated differently in law, but school rules normally ban all knives. Should we call the police every time? Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger. In other cases, follow your school's protocol, which will normally involve the police when a weapon is found. What should knife crime awareness training cover? Good training covers why young people carry knives, the law, warning signs, safe responses, searching procedures and links to exploitation. It should give staff the chance to practise the conversations they may need to have. Knife incidents in schools are rare, but staff who know the signs and the procedure can act quickly and safely when one happens. A calm response also leaves room to support the young person behind the incident. SLC Training delivers Knife Crime Awareness and Lockdown and Incident Management training for schools and children's services across South Wales. Contact SLC Training to discuss training for your school.Knife Crime Awareness in Schools: What Staff in Wales Need to Know
Why do young people carry knives?
What has changed in knife law?
Can schools in Wales search pupils for knives?
Warning signs to look out for
How to respond if you suspect a learner has a knife
Example: a learner's friend raises a concern
Prevention works best when it starts early
Frequently asked questions
Help your staff respond with confidence
