To think we need to re-think security for children's schools and clubs following Southport

We need much better security everywhere for everyone regarding stabbings.

We need scanners in schools, public buildings etc, nightclubs Why only airports.
It's long overdue.

You should speak with your local MP. Your points are valid.

Not only do they open doors in warm weather but the group I'm part of organises activities along the lines of camping, rambling, forest skills, fire lighting in hall gardens, star gazing, raft building, night walks, theatre trips, STEM events etc.. It's not possible for this type of set up to take place only in secure premises.

Each parent must do what they think is right but my thoughts are that the benefits of this type of activity and freedom far outweigh the minuscule risk. Plus sadly a determined individual will find a way.

Schools are a different case because, (unless homeschooled), all young people are supposed to attend school. So the compulsory nature of it means steps have been taken to increase security.

Sadly life carries risks.

Our school is locked, you need to be buzzed in if after the start/end time. The activity my DC goes to once a week has a doorbell camera on, although in theory anyone could go in, as it's not locked.

To be honest I think even mental health services wouldn’t have helped here, they’re not miracle workers

Schools are secure during the day but not at pick up and drop off. There's no way to do that.
If someone wants to harm children, they will find a way.
We need to improve mental health services.

If the Govt doesn't get a grip, we will end up with a right-wing government.

The vast majority of the failings happened under a Tory government. The appalling crime happened very soon after Labour took power.

Surely, if you are caught carrying a knife, you are expressing a desire or hurt your fellow citizens.

You're probably right. But the reports seem to say this man literally said he wanted to murder so that his TikTok account would get deleted by the police. There's been some serious failures by various agencies.

If the Govt doesn't get a grip, we will end up with a right-wing government.

I think the focus should be on identifying possible perpetrators and removing them from society, either deportation (if not British ) or secure accommodation, or some sort of institutional place. Zero tolerance for the sort of stuff he was doing in his room, there were plenty of signs.

Also bring back stop and search with zero tolerance for knives.

unfortunately ramping up security won’t help because there is always an opportunity, for example he could have waited until they were entering or leaving or chosen a different location.

what worries me is how many more like him are there?

Surely, if you are caught carrying a knife, you are expressing a desire or hurt your fellow citizens.

I agree. One of my children's Saturday clubs has just introduced a new system where you have to be buzzed in the gate (previously you could go to reception to sign in)

What we need to do is actually deal with those who carry knives and express a desire to murder. This man could easily have been stopped if the agencies involved had dealt with the danger properly. I don't know why they didn't (incompetence, underfunding, poor risk assessment) but the inquiry needs to get those details and the government must fix the problems.

Keeping kids in secure compounds is papering over the cracks.

Totally against making children feel even more frightened than many already do, by turning places of fun into pseudo prisons.

What we do need is the ability to deal with the obviously dangerous, either through mental illness or just plain bad. Human rights have gone too far, where police or health workers are frightened to remove the liberty of people who should be locked up for their own or others safety.

I am old enough to remember the start of care in the community. And for many it was a great thing. But for a number of others suffering serious mental health issues, it just shoved the burden of care from a hospital setting, to police and social work. Probably costing more than in patient care for the person.

My children's primary school was very secure, gates locked. Buzz to get in thr front door, office staff were behind glass/perspex and then another locked door into the school. Secondary school less so.

However I meet a friend at the weekend, where her very young child does a sports club. I can walk straight into the school, and into the class within seconds. All yhe doors are open - potentially because other activities are happening in the same building

We hear how kids are carrying knifes because they fear being stabbed. If I feared being stabbed, I would buy a stab proof vest, not a zombie knife. So I don't buy that argument at all. Carry a knife, you get jail time, end of.

Our schools and nurseries are very secure. However a lot of the clubs, especially the smaller ones (not part of big chains) are very insecure. On the day after the southport stabbings i walked right into our kids holiday club. One let me pick up the kids without even checking who I was or what kids I was coming to collect (my husband had done the last couple of drop offs and pick ups). So yes I think improvements could be made, fairly easily

You may well have a point here. I think we also need a zero tolerance to knife carrying.

I would like the crack down on cannabis. I think some young men go mad on it. It’s everywhere

Ballet school was very proactive and put a lock on the studio door the same week of the horrendous event in Southport. Brownie group held in a school so door also locked.

But as pp have said, the children need to be able to get out in an emergency. The lock needs to be one that can easily be opened by a child, in case the teacher is incapacitated, or even just at the other end of the room. And emergency services need to be able to get in.

School I work in is on a large site, built in the 70s, has several buildings, head has asked council to improve security but fencing the whole site would cost many, many thousands of pounds. We have in the last few months had security locks fitted to external doors. A few weeks ago a teen who isn’t a member of the school turned up, some of our kids let her in (card locks on the outside, release button on inside). Thankfully she wasn’t a threat and the head has spelt out in no uncertain terms this isn’t to happen again. Difficult though isn’t it. City centre schools are generally on smaller sites and kids are a bit more savvy maybe, we’re properly out in the sticks. In the 60s and 70s so many schools were built to be open to the wider community quite deliberately. There’s so little money for school improvement at the moment. How much is unaffordable, given that the risk of another school attack is pretty small.

Dc's school is locked and the gates are locked during the day. Ballet school was very proactive and put a lock on the studio door the same week of the horrendous event in Southport. Brownie group held in a school so door also locked.
Definitely something I will consider in the future before signing dc to any new activities.

Kids do notice. They may not be able to tell you what protocols are in place, but in general many are aware that, for instance, many parents think someone might get into their school, etc. and attack them if there aren't strict controls over entry.

It's shocking that concerns were raised 3 times

What is the point of Prevent if no one acts on someone voicing concerns

Alright. Just pointing out it wouldn’t stress out all kids. Of all the groups my kids go to, any security measures are done in such a way that I’d wager most kids don’t even notice. But you know best.