SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

Attacks on teachers blamed for youth surge in share of offences

- NORMAN SILVESTER

ONE in three violent offences in Scotland is committed by children - with attacks on teachers blamed for the massive rise.

Now calls have been made for better protection for teachers amid warnings they could strike if the tide of attacks is not halted.

The shocking increase is revealed in the Scottish Government's annual crime survey, which showed 31 per cent of violent crimes are carried by under-16s.

While a quarter of all violent offences are carried out by children against adults in their place of work, teacher assaults are understood to be the majority of these incidents.

Mike Corbett, of the NASUWT teachers' union, said: "There is no doubt that these figures capture some of the issues facing teachers in Scotland's schools at the moment.

"They echo the findings of our own surveys, all of which confirm that there has been an increase in violent and abusive behaviour from pupils towards teachers in recent years.

"The Scottish Government recognised the problem and published a Joint Action Plan on Relationships and Behaviour in August last year to try and help to address this.