A CHILD aged only eight years old is among those counted in Bradford school knife crime statistics.

Police data reveals an alarming picture of youngsters – some who are still in primary school - embroiled in serious crime.

Figures released by West Yorkshire Police through a Freedom of Information request cover the 2019-2021 academic years and crimes committed by under-18s where someone has been found with a blade/sharply pointed article on school premises, or where a threat has been made with one on school premises. 

Nearly 170 crimes were recorded in the force area during that period and more than 60 per cent involved child suspects between the ages of eight and 13.

In almost a quarter of cases, the suspect was a child aged between eight and 11.

Bradford is no stranger to the devastating impact of knives being taken into schools. 

Back in 2019, a 16-year-old Beckfoot Thornton School pupil admitted taking a six-inch flick knife into the school, on Leaventhorpe Lane, and wounding a 15-year-old boy.

In a sentencing hearing at Bradford’s Youth Court, Chairman of the bench Peter Alexander, told the youngster: “We’ve been told we’ve really got to jump on people who take knives into school. It’s got to stop because young innocent people are getting killed on a daily basis.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said it has dedicated Safer Schools Officers who work in partnership with secondary schools across the county. 

“As part of their role they speak to young people about the dangers of carrying knives and the potential consequences,” the spokesperson added.

“West Yorkshire Police support national campaigns around knife crime and are proactive in enforcement activities such as weapon sweeps, test purchase operations and educational visits. 

“In 2020 West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was established. The unit takes a public health, whole systems approach to reducing serious violent crime and knife crime. 

“The VRU has dedicated education specialists who work with and support educational establishments. It has funded a wealth of projects and interventions across West Yorkshire to support young people and deter them from violent crime.”

The spokesperson said the force is “committed” to prosecuting those who carry knives and added: “The work of our partners and community-based projects is important, as is the vigilance of families who believe one of their relatives may carry weapons. 

“Tackling it requires everyone to work together through a variety of approaches.”