Thousands of children have been caught carrying weapons in school including some as young as FOUR

THOUSANDS of pupils have been caught carrying weapons in school — including some as young as four.

A 14-year-old was found with a sword, while knives, knuckle-dusters, a hammer and a Taser have also been seized by cops, Freedom of Information data reveals.

There were 1,072 incidents in the last financial year and 311 more between April and August.

But the true figure will be much higher with many forces including London’s Met — the UK’s biggest — not providing data.

School leaders said the figures were "grim but unsurprising", reflecting an issue in society as a whole that schools cannot solve alone.

Police chiefs warned that violence is a growing problem among young people, and forces are working with schools to educate youngsters and explain why they should not carry weapons.

The rate of knife crime in other parts of the country is rising quicker than certain London boroughsInformation from 29 police forces in England and Wales with relevant data showed there were 1,072 incidents in the last financial year, up from 831 in the previous 12 months.

Knives, including lock-knives, pen knives and craft knives, were involved in 1,260 incidents across between April 2017 and summer 2019 - more than half of the incidents reported overall.

In one case, Dyfed Powys recorded an unidentified four-year-old who is said to have been in possession of an unnamed weapon. They were unable to provide further details about the incident.

Lucy Martindale, a youth worker from south London who lost 11 family and friends to murder, gun and knife crime during a seven-year period, said: "The situation is getting worse, even just this year.

"Some young people I speak to say before they leave the house - where most people check they have picked up their keys and wallet or purse - they check they have their knives with them.

"There needs to be more collaborative action."

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for children and young people, said that although incidents are rare, forces are seeing a small number of offences on school premises involving weapons.

"Serious violence is a growing problem amongst young people and we continue to work closely with partners to address this," she said.

"Police involvement in schools, whether it be officers delivering talks and interactive sessions or based in schools themselves as part of the Safer Schools Partnership, helps us to educate young people and explain why carrying a weapon is never the right choice."

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, argued that cuts to policing and local support services are fuelling problems with weapons in society.

He said: "These figures are grim but unsurprising and reflect a growing problem over the prevalence of weapons in wider society."

• GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk