We risk criminalising children

In June, two potential legislative changes took place that will directly involve and affect schools and have serious implications for them and their students on many levels – yet amazingly, these were almost unnoticed by school leaders and teachers.

The first was the passing of an amendment to extend injunction powers to headteachers. The second was a proposal to include bullying within the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill guidance. It’s not really surprising schools did not react, as there appears to have been little to no consultation with school leaders or teachers’ unions.

We strongly oppose changes to legislation which are essentially condoning the criminalising of children. These changes run a real, tangible risk of unnecessarily drawing children – many for the first time – into the criminal justice system.