Aberdeen Schools Confront Rising Violence and Knife Incidents

Youth violence in Aberdeen schools has more than tripled since the pandemic, with over 1,146 incidents of pupil violence recorded in the 2024-25 academic year, up from around 300 in 2018-19. The council's education convener, Martin Greig, believes that metal detectors and airport-style security measures would only heighten tensions and are counterproductive. Instead, he advocates for tackling the underlying causes of violence, including the increase in additional support needs pupils and the physical layout of the council's Victorian schools.

Key Takeaways:

• The number of pupil violence incidents in Aberdeen schools has nearly quadrupled since the pandemic, from around 300 in 2018-19 to over 1,146 in 2024-25.
• Education convener Martin Greig believes that metal detectors and airport-style security measures would only heighten tensions and are counterproductive.
• The council has recorded 43 weapons seized from Aberdeen schools between January 2024 and April 2025.
• The number of additional support needs pupils has more than tripled since 2016, from 5,000 to over 17,000.
• Martin Greig points to the physical layout of old schools and the need for breakout areas, rooms, and spaces as contributing factors to the increase in violence.
• The council's anti-knife and anti-bullying policies are in place but may not actually work in preventing violent incidents.
• Education convener Martin Greig is open to reviewing and refreshing these policies to better address the current situation.

Statistics:

• 1,146 incidents of pupil violence were recorded in Aberdeen schools in the 2024-25 academic year.
• 300 incidents of pupil violence were recorded in Aberdeen schools in 2018-19.
• The number of additional support needs pupils has more than tripled since 2016, from 5,000 to over 17,000.
• 43 weapons were seized from Aberdeen schools between January 2024 and April 2025.

Sources:

• Aberdeen Evening Express
• P&J
• BBC News ( Freedom of Information request)
• Aberdeen City Council ( unspecified date)
• Aberdeen City Council (no date)
• P&J (no date)

Note: The sources listed above are as mentioned in the original text. The lack of specific dates for certain sources indicates that the original text did not include those details.