Gateshead School’s Lockdown

Schools across Gateshead went into voluntary lockdown after police confirmed they had received malicious communications targeting the schools.

Transcript

00:00Northumbria police were alerted shortly before 9am about the malicious communications targeting

00:06several primary and secondary schools across the borough.

00:10In response, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the affected schools to conduct

00:14investigations and assess any potential threats.

00:18The police assured the public that they were working closely with the schools to ensure

00:21the situation was being handled appropriately.

00:24While no specific threats to students or staff had been substantiated at the time of the

00:28lockdown, the police advised parents to refrain from visiting the school, emphasising that

00:33any unnecessary disruptions could potentially increase risks.

00:37The authorities' swift response aimed to mitigate any panic and maintain public order.

00:42Gateshead Council quickly addressed the situation, providing an update that no immediate danger

00:46had been identified.

00:48They released a statement saying

00:50A number of schools in Gateshead this morning received information via email and took the

00:54appropriate safeguarding action as per their procedures.

00:58Our colleagues in Northumbria police have made subsequent inquiries and deemed this

01:01not to be a credible threat.

01:03To reassure you, there are no concerns as a result of these malicious communications

01:08and no schools need to be in a lockdown.

01:10We are working with the police in our schools and we want to reassure parents and carers

01:14that your children are safe to remain in school.

01:17We would urge people to remain calm and be reassured that the safety of your children

01:21is our number one priority.

01:24The lockdown in Gateshead was part of a broader wave of similar incidents affecting schools

01:27across England.

01:28Earlier on the 5th of March, May Green Primary School in Birmingham had also received a threatening

01:33message.

01:34This one included references to firearms.

01:38The school responded by keeping students indoors as a precautionary step, while the police

01:42conducted their own investigation.