British pupils scared of gang-related violence in schools

Teaching union NASUWT has published a study (which will be delivered to the education secretary today) reporting that children are wearing safety vests to school, afraid that they will be a victim of gang violence:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/scared-pupils-wear-stab-vests-in-school-1419281.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/01/19/terrified-british-children-now-wear-bulletproof-vests-to-school-115875-21052205/

One pupil's comment highlights the feeling that carrying is necessary “I can protect myself with a knife or a gun. I would rather be arrested than dead.” Teachers claim that they increasingly feel as though they are personally responsible for the safety of their pupils, are themselves put at risk, and call for more support from the community to limit violence in schools. The report supports the calls for metal detectors in schools, one of the Mirror's Stop Knives, Save Lives campaign.

Although concerning, the report adds fuel to a moral panic which is already high on the agenda - leaving average Joe public more worried than ever about 'out of control' teens and feeling unempowered. There is limited coverage in UK national press, but internationally the press have leapt upon the story:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24931840-401,00.html

Interestingly, given what we know about our target audience and their levels of exclusion, it is stated that many kids see school as a refuge from the dangers in the outside world:
"However, many pupils saw school as a "safe haven" compared with the outside – even though intruders had arrived intent to injure other pupils."