Knife Crime Arches in Schools

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Report Summary

Knife crime involving children and young people has become an increasingly prominent safeguarding concern in the United Kingdom, leading to growing pressure on schools to demonstrate how they are preventing serious violence and keeping pupils safe. In response, some schools have considered or implemented walk-through metal detectors, commonly referred to as “knife crime arches” or “knife arches”, at school entrances.

These devices are intended to detect metallic weapons and deter pupils from bringing knives onto school premises. While knife arches are often presented as a decisive and visible response to risk, their effectiveness as a violence-prevention measure remains contested. This literature review examines the research and policy evidence on the use of knife arches in schools, with a specific focus on violence prevention, safeguarding, school climate, and unintended consequences.

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