There has been a considerable increase this year in the number of incidents involving air-guns, knives and other weapons amongst children in Edinburgh schools, according to official police figures.

According to Lothian and Borders police, in 2006-7, 149 incidents involving school-children using weapons in instances of violent and offensive behaviour. Thirteen of these incidents involved the use of knives, whilst in other cases missiles included stones and eggs.

The Herald and Post reported last week that since 2002, police have had to intervene on 47 occasions when air rifles or ball-bearing guns were used. One particular incident in Dalkeith June, where children as young as six reportedly shot a 15-year-old schoolboy in the eye.

On another occasion in February, an eleven-year-old held a knife to a primary school girl’s throat after the confiscated blade had been handed back to the child. The head teacher of Mayfield primary school refused to comment upon this for confidentiality reasons.

In a statement on tackling violence in schools, Lothian and Borders Police said that their officers regularly interact with schools, and that two officers are currently based at Tynecastle High and Boroughmuir High for the purpose of regulating the behaviour of pupils.

A report released last week by the Scottish Children’s Reporter - the child protection and youth justice system for children in Scotland - showed that in 2006-7 there have been 56,199 children referred to behavioural panels with 4,765 in the City of Edinburgh. Whilst these figures show a significant rise, the number of referrals made on grounds of violent behaviour, the total number of referrals have decreased by 7per cent.

Lothian and Borders Police continue to work alongside the SCRA, the Midlothian council and other organisations to reduce youth offending in and around Edinburgh.