HOAX BOMB CALLS ROCK SCHOOLS ACROSS THE UK

Following the recent hoax bomb calls to schools across the UK, the Metropolitan Police Service in conjunction with The Department for Education and The Directors of Children’s services and London Councils, are providing updates to students, their parents and carers.

Over the past 10 days there have been a series of hoax bomb calls to schools across the country, including schools in London.

Some of the calls are reported to be  linked to each other.  Others are ‘copycat’ calls. The calls have caused significant disruption to school life, upset to school staff and understandable concern to pupils, their parents and carers.   

The MPS have started working with schools and local councils to ensure the safety of all students and to minimise disruption.

Every bomb threat have however been assessed. Highly experienced officers have started work with counter-terrorism experts, who have an in depth knowledge of such incidents, to quickly assess whether a threat is real or not. 

Words have been sent out to students, parents and carers that there is no credible threat posed to students' safety and that all of the calls have been malicious designed to cause fear and disruption.

A major criminal investigation has commenced on the matter. Making a hoax bomb threat is a serious crime punishable by up to seven years imprisonment.    
School authorities are working with Police Forces across the country to find the person or people responsible.  A number of arrests within the West Midlands area have already been made.
Schools and councils have currently been updated and have issued guidance on what to do in the event of a bomb threat. This guidance is in addition to existing safety plans held by schools which are well-rehearsed and are designed to manage a range of situations.

It is advised that all remain alert but not alarmed and, to assist in dealing with these incidents, students, parents and carers have been asked to do the following:

If you have any specific questions regarding your school’s safety plans or the site’s security please speak to school staff.
If your school makes a decision to temporarily suspend lessons while safety checks are carried out please do not attend the campus to remove your child unless you are asked to do so and do not phone the emergency services to ask for updates on your child – this delays genuine people in need from getting help.  Schools will keep you informed and they will always arrange care for students who are unable to return home or whose parents/carers are unable to collect them.
Please do not attend and remove your child from a school that has not been affected by an alert – this results in missed learning opportunities.
Speak to your child about the consequences of making hoax calls.  What may appear to them as a ‘joke’ will have long-lasting implications for their future.
Should you have any information about those responsible for the security alerts call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
You can find out more about how schools, the council and you can prepare for emergencies here:  HYPERLINK "http://www.gov.uk/local-planning-emergency-major-incident" www.gov.uk/local-planning-emergency-major-incident