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

[caffelattetogo]

Before I start, this is absolutely not blaming the victims or anyone who organised the holiday club in Southport. It's easy to be wise after the event.

But, I really think that we need new risk assessments for anywhere that children are, ones that look more at their safety. These monsters target children, so anywhere that children are needs to think about locked doors, video doorbell cameras, extra security measures, anything we can to keep them safer.

Mental health services are struggling and the early warning signs are being missed. We have dangerous people free to plan activities like this, and while we shouldn't need to, I think we need to be aware.

I have thought about this when planning my children's clubs following the attack, and chosen ones with better security measures.

Similarly, I'm concerned about the security at DCs' school and nursery, where doors are often left open.

I know these attacks are rare, but I would feel safer knowing that they were behind locked doors.

AIBU?

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

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

How's it not?

My kids school has no door handles on the outside. The doors the kids use can only be opened from the inside.
The main entrance is two sliding doors. With a lobby between them. The outside must close before the inside opens. And vice versa.

It's fairly new built after Dunblane with security in mind but no reason for other schools not to at least change the doors to high security doors.

Would have made it harder for him if he hadn't been able to.just walk in though.

Where does it end? I know a lot of riding schools that offer holiday clubs for kids, as well as the usual riding lessons. You can’t securely fence and lock a whole farm. Or what about Sunday football matches on playing fields? What happened was beyond awful, but was a rogue event and it shouldn’t lead to all children being locked up to the point of not having a normal childhood.

My sons school all doors are locked except at drop off and collection times . You have to be let in at reception if you want access once in reception the doors into school are locked and reception is behind a glass partition

I think the difference between an open farm or football pitch is more places for kids to run.
In a hall or somewhere kids are trapped. He shouldn't have been able just to wander into the studio.

But bottom line he's just an evil evil bastard and a coward at that. He wasn't ever going to attempt to attack boys at a football match where there are more likely to be Men around that would do him some damage.
He choose to attack wee girls and a young female teacher.

I don't normally believe in the death sentence. But he is pure evil, what's the point in keeping him alive in a cell for the next 50 years?

The problem is it can happen anywhere. I've always found it interesting with the security at airports but walk into a big shopping centre, train station, theatre...

The majority of secondary schools have an open door at morning, break , lunch and end of day.

I agree @Burntt please do not stop until you get help , bless you.

But sorry, he's not a victim

I have armed myself with some Jif lemon and any fucker trying this is getting a spray of tart lemon full on in the eyes. But officer. I’m a little old lady, and have this in my pocket as I like baking and forgot to take it out as my memory is going.

This. We have enough "safety" stuff already, for the most part.

As I said on the thread about kitchen knives, the UK needs to sort out its prisons and get to grips with the idea that some psychiatric patients cannot manage their conditions safely as outpatients and may need to be put in secure psychiatric units long-term. (Yes, that costs money. The damage that these people cause across society as a whole when not locked up is, however, a lot more expensive)

My kids school has no door handles on the outside. The doors the kids use can only be opened from the inside.

What if someone legitimately needs to get in?

I disagree, what we need is more funding for police, mental health and social services. The individual that carried out these particular attacks was known and had some pretty significant red flags about him already.

I'm sure that in the Southport case, the main door was locked (you can see that from taxi footage), but they had opened a door upstairs for fresh air because it was hot that day. I mean, why shouldn't they have been able to do that and not give it a second thought?. We need to get to the root of the problem in this country . If this monster had been dealt with on the previous occasions he displayed concerning behaviour ,this would never have happened. Locked doors on not.

I agree but this offender has obviously been of sound mind enough to stand trial and be held in a mainstream prison. I doubt he would have made the threshold to be held in any kind of secure unit, he isn’t actually mentally ill is he? Just evil and the two don’t go hand in hand.