Dundee Labour’s education spokesman has warned pupils fears of “clyping” on schoolmates could end in tragedy.
Councillor Laurie Bidwell believes engaging with pupils and promoting an environment where students feel able to report concerns over weapon possession is essential.
The official report into the death of tragic Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne found some pupils at Cults Academy were aware the teenager behind the killing had a knife.
Mr Bidwell believes students must ignore any fears they have over reporting peers to prevent a Dundee version of the tragedy.
The Broughty Ferry representative said: “Pupils can’t be concerned about clyping — this is too important.
“We need to work with pupils to engage with them. There was an incident recently, which was reported widely in the local press, where a pupil reported one of their peers for having a craft knife in school.
“He had been a friend of the pupil and picked it up during lunch time. In that instance, it was really good and positive.
“The pupil involved clearly realised it would be an error not to hand the knife over to someone responsible.”
Mr Bidwell’s comments come after Dundee City Council backed plans to publish and distribute a booklet detailing the council’s policy on weapon possession in city schools
The booklets will be handed out to first year pupils during high school induction events and during other relevant high school seminars.
Mr Bidwell, who presented the motion which was adopted by the administration, believes such preventative steps can ensure a “constructive and effective approach” is used to tackle weapon possession in Dundee.
Analysis by Dundee City Council and Police Scotland suggests “there is not a high prevalence of knife carrying by young people in Dundee”.
According to the research, between 2011 and 2016, 19 incidents of a pupil being found in possession of a knife in school were detected.
