Mum of murdered schoolboy welcomes knife arch

Caroline Willgoose has welcomed the installation of a knife arch at The Sheffield College

The mother of a 15-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed at school has welcomed the installation of a knife arch at a nearby college where a pupil was arrested on suspicion of possessing a blade.

Caroline Willgoose, who has campaigned for knife arches to be installed in schools since her son Harvey's death in February, said she "couldn't believe it" when she heard about the incident at The Sheffield College on Tuesday.

Police were called to the Granville Road campus at 13:00 GMT after reports a fight had broken out between students, with one allegedly seen with a knife.

The knife arch was installed on Wednesday as part of a pre-planned anti knife crime initiative, South Yorkshire Police said.

"I'm over the moon they have got a knife arch in there now," said Mrs Willgoose, whose son was killed by a fellow pupil with a hunting knife at Sheffield's All Saints Catholic High School, located just a few hundred metres from the college.

"It shouldn't have got to this," she added.

South Yorkshire Police said the knife arch had been installed as part of their involvement in a national week of action to tackle knife crime, known as Operation Sceptre.

'No winners'

"Now they have got a knife arch in place, surely other schools and parents - and the children - know that there is a need for knife arches in all schools and colleges," said Mrs Willgoose.

"You are putting yourself in more danger carrying knives. There are no winners on either side."

Andrew Hartley, deputy chief executive of The Sheffield College, said knife arches would be rolled out at all the site's campuses from next week and "continued and increased random" searches would take place.

"We will continue to focus on educating our students about the dangers of violent crime and the destruction it can cause through tutorials and other sessions," he said.

Security staff would trial body-worn cameras from January, he added.

On Monday Mrs Willgoose joined others in handing out bleed kits containing potentially lifesaving first aid equipment to schools in the city as part of the Binning Knives Saves Lives campaign.

She said the kits were part of her son's "legacy".

A 17-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article after the reported fight at the college on Tuesday has been bailed pending further enquiries, police confirmed earlier.

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