Sheffield students back permanent metal detectors at college but warn it isn't enough
“Students are clear that implementing metal detectors alone is not enough, education is essential”
A survey of over 1,000 colllege students in Sheffield found strong support for introducing metal detectors as a permanent security measure.
But the students feel that these measures alone will not solve the underlying problem of knife crime.
South Yorkshire based charity Always An Alternative surveyed 1,004 students at The Sheffield Colleges two campuses in Hillsborough and Granville Road as part of an 11-day programme that combined awareness sessions, a metal detector trial, and follow-up support for students affected by knife crime.
The project was launched in response to the knife-related death of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose pupil at a Sheffield secondary school and a growing national campaign for weapon-detection arches in schools.
The project’s purpose was to capture the thoughts, feelings and voices of students themselves, rather than the parents and campaigners who have dominated the wider debate.
The results show that almost 61 per cent of students questioned would support metal detectors becoming a permanent fixture, compared with just 13 per cent who were opposed.
This came despite 90 per of students saying they feel safe on both campuses.
Around 50 per cent said they would feel safer if everyone was screened entering the campuses, and more than three-quarters agreed that feeling safer helps them concentrate on their work.
During a trial, nearly two-thirds of students chose to walk through the detector voluntarily.
Of those, 63 per cent riggered an alarm - almost always because of jewellery or metal on lanyards.
Reactions were largely positive, with reassurance outweighing embarrassment even when the device activated, the charity said.
The charity added: “Nonetheless, the report also flags real concerns.
“Over four in 10 students said entrance checks or queues would cause stress, and nearly half worried that screening could leave some students feeling judged or stigmatised.
“Specific groups, including students aged 20 to 24, neurodivergent students, nonbinary and gender-diverse students, and those from "other campuses" showed consistently lower confidence and higher concern.
“Creative Design and Arts students were the most sceptical overall, while Performing Arts and Music students reported the lowest feelings of safety.
“The report's recommendations centre on communication and consistency: explaining clearly what can and cannot trigger a detector, keeping queues fast and predictable, training staff in de-escalation and pairing any rollout with ongoing knife-crime education including up-to-date guidance on how to safely report or dispose of a weapon.”
"Metal detectors are widely welcomed across every demographic surveyed," the report concludes.
“But students are clear that implementing metal detectors alone is not enough, education is essential."
Always An Alternative is now exploring repeating the research at a secondary school.
To read the full report please visit: https://alwaysanalternative.org.uk/projects/metal-detectors-in-education/