Knife arches, random searches and bodycams set to improve security at Sheffield College after police incident
A city college had a knife arch in use on its grounds today after police responded to reports of a fight on the campus reported to have involved a knife.
Yesterday (November 19), police officers raced to Sheffield College on Granville Road in response to reports that a fight between students had broken out and that a knife had been seen.
Following investigations, they arrested a 17-year-old boy on Alderson Road in Sheffield on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article.
He has subsequently been bailed as police enquiries continue.
Now, Sheffield College has explained that two other students have been suspended in connection with a separate altercation yesterday and that a knife arch was brought onto the campus today to help reassure staff and students.
Plans have been drawn up to introduce a raft of new security measures at the college in the coming months, as staff continue to be supported by South Yorkshire Police.
Andrew Hartley, deputy chief executive at the college, said: “Student and staff safety is our number one priority and we are continuing to support the police with their enquiries.
“Two students from city campus have been suspended as part of disciplinary procedures following the college being made aware yesterday, from a social media post, of a separate altercation off campus.
"The police have confirmed that no knife was involved in this incident. We understand the concern that this and yesterday’s incident will cause to our college and wider community.
“South Yorkshire Police provided city campus with a knife arch today. This formed part of their activity during a week of action known as Operation Sceptre and was done in conjunction with our pre-planned Safer Campus Week.
“We will roll out knife arches at our campuses from next week and run continued and increased random wand searches in line with our policy. We will continue to focus on educating our students about the dangers of violent crime and the destruction it can cause through tutorials and other sessions.
“We will continue land searches of college campuses in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police to ensure there is nothing on campus that shouldn't be. We will be trialling CCTV body cameras on our security guards from early January 2026 to ensure when incidents happen, we can take swift action and remove people from college and permanently where needed.”
Local MP Louise Haigh has spoken out on yesterday’s incident involving the knife, which came just months after the tragic murder of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose, who was stabbed to death at nearby All Saints Catholic High School earlier this year.
The Labour MP wrote on Facebook: “I know that many in the community will be worried to hear about the incident that took place outside Sheffield College.
“I know that the college is working closely with South Yorkshire Police to investigate this incident, and enquiries are continuing, and police remain on the scene.”
You can report information to police by calling 101 and quoting incident number 401 of November 18, 2025.
Alternatively, information can be sent to the force online here.
To access more information, help and advice, as well as anonymous reporting methods, visit the Knives Take Lives website here.