School gets knife arches at entrance

PUPILS CHECKED BY DETECTOR

- STAFF REPORTER

KNIFE arches have been installed at the entrance of a Black Country school.

Pupils at St James Academy in Dudley will have to walk through a detector at the start of the day.

The arch can detect weapons and even vapes and it is hoped will make students and staff feel protected while they are being educated and give parents 'peace of mind.

West Midlands Police’s Dudley Partnerships Team has been working alongside Dudley Academies Trust to implement the safety arches at the entrances of its secondary schools.

The arches were successfully trialled at St James Academy.

They will be rolled out to other schools over the coming weeks.

Inspector Sarah Long, of West Midlands Police Dudley Partnerships Team, said: “The addition of these screening arches is just one way we're working with our partners to keep our young people safe.