A Bradford community leader has endorsed calls for young Sikhs to be allowed to wear ceremonial daggers in school.

Under Government rules, individual governing bodies are free to establish their own policies on pupils and staff carrying the Kirpan.

A defence exists under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 that allows for the possession of the dagger in a public place if the wearer can prove they were doing so for religious reasons.

But a 14-year-old boy was banned from wearing his Kirpan at a school in London in October after governors banned it on health and safety grounds.

Ranbir Singh, president of the United Sikh Association in Bradford, agreed with comments made by Britain’s first Asian judge, the retired Sir Mota Singh QC, in saying banning a Sikh who is baptised from wearing the Kirpan was not right.

The dagger is one of five symbols of faith that baptised Sikhs must physically display.

Mr Singh said Sikhs respected the dagger and never used it in any way other than as an obligation of their faith.

“It is a religious thing and we shouldn’t have to take them off,” he said.

“I have never heard of them being used as offensive weapons. If you are baptised you wear one with respect.”

Harbans Singh, a volunteer at Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, a Sikh temple in Leeds Road, Bradford, said: “It’s not a weapon, it is worn round the waist underneath the clothes. Only when you have a shower would you take it off.”

Sir Mota Singh said he wore a Kirpan for 35 to 40 years during his time in court.