Police called to schools 64 times a day

The police are summoned to schools in London more than 64 times a day, figures show.

In the past year, officers have responded to 12,300 reported offences in and around school grounds - a vast percentage committed by children under 16. The incidents include 2,828 complaints of violence, 5,732 of theft and 1,063 of criminal damage, including arson.

Officers have also investigated 113 children accused of possessing drugs and drug trafficking; 132 found to be carrying offensive weapons; and 243 accused of committing a sexual offence, 14 of rape.

The statistics, released to the Evening Standard following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, are based on the 600 secondary schools and 2,500 primary schools in the capital.

Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said some schools were struggling to cope.

"All the evidence suggests that for a small number of schools the situation with offensive weapons and drugs being brought into the classroom has got worse in last five years," she said. "I urge the Government to support those schools which are under enormous pressure, and to target the problem of gangs outside the school gates."

Earlier this week, children's charity NCH claimed more than one in six young people had been personally affected by gun and knife crime.