Woman with weapon arrested on school grounds

A woman in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assaulting an emergency worker at a school this morning.

Wiltshire Police officers attended Wroughton Junior School shortly after 9am today following concerns about the behaviour of a member of the public on the school estate.

A woman, in her 30s, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assaulting an emergency worker.

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She is thought to have been suffering from a mental health crisis and is receiving appropriate care.

The school had already been placed into lockdown having been notified by staff at nearby Ridgeway School and no children or staff were harmed.

School lessons have now returned to normal and staff are working to reassure children.

T/Supt Joseph Saunders said: “The public can expect to see an increased police presence at both schools today. Officers quickly responded and arrested a woman at the scene. For reassurance, there is no ongoing threat to pupils and staff at the school.”

Ashley Barrington-Wilding, head teacher of Wroughton Junior School said: “We can confirm that we initiated our lockdown procedure just after 9am following a call from the Ridgeway School. All staff and children are safe and school has continued as normal.”

Head teacher of Ridgeway Secondary School Adrian Cush paid tribute to staff at both schools who reacted promptly and professionally to the incident: “Whilst this may be concerning for all of us as a community, our school systems and members of staff reacted in a prompt professional way ensuring the safety of the whole school community.

“It is normal protocol for any school to practise similar scenarios and this training ensured the response of the staff was prompt, caring and professional.”

Talking about the incident Sir Robert Buckland MP “I am extremely concerned to hear about the incident at Wroughton Junior School this morning.

“I have received an update from Wiltshire Police and I am confident that the matter is being handled correctly. I am reassured that there is no current threat to the safety of pupils and staff.”

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