Protect my pupils from the muggers
Headteacher raises alarm as youngsters are targeted in ‘escalating violence’
Friday, 27th January 2023 — By Charlotte Chambers
St Mary Magdalene Academy
A SECONDARY school headteacher has written a stark appeal for help in protecting students from a spate of muggings described as “relentless in their constancy”.
The warning from St Mary Magdalene Academy – sent to the council and Islington South MP Emily Thornberry – reported that the thefts were now “escalating” in violence. She shared her letter with parents this week.
One of the most recent incidents saw a Year 11 pupil at the school in Liverpool Road, Highbury, injured after a knife was pulled on him by young thieves in balaclavas.
Headteacher Victoria Linsley has now made a direct request for action, writing in her letter to the authorities on Tuesday: “Following the mugging of yet another SMMA pupil yesterday at approximately 4.30pm, this one at knifepoint and the pupil requiring (thankfully minor) medical attention, I would urge those of you with the ability to do something about street safety and street crime in the area local to the Academy to do so.”
Headteacher Victoria Linsley
She said she had already raised the problem with police and council officers and that meetings had been taking place since November, and noted there had been successes with recent arrests and a uniformed police presence.
But she added: “This is all good but unfortunately the muggings continue, with a constancy that is relentless and more recently an escalation in the threat of and use of violence.”
Ms Linsley said “this feels urgent to the school community” and told the council it is for them to invite relevant parties and lead the meeting as they “have the contacts and the influence”.
She added: “In short, the council have the ability to tackle this problem for the community. The school has no power to bring change in this situation, other than continuing to shout with an ever louder, more urgent voice, about our significant concerns for the safety of our pupils and staff in the local area.”
Parents said the school has been updating them on the situation since attacks first began six months ago and police have also stepped up their patrols of the area.
Ann, whose son was injured in a robbery on Monday and is only giving her first name to protect his identity, said: “The muggings have been going on for the past six months. There has been a spate of sporadic muggings all over the borough but lately our children have been targeted. Since the beginning of term, since January, there’s been five or six.
“One of the children has been done twice although I think this is the first time a weapon’s been used and that’s only because my son tried to fight back a bit. They went for his friend initially and he stepped in and pushed one of them and that’s when the knife got pulled.
“The parents are absolutely fuming. They’re fed up with it. They just say, ‘How can this keep happening? Why are they not doing anything about this? We need patrols outside the school. Our kids need to be protected!’ This has tipped them over the edge.”
Despite following advice from the school to walk on main roads with friends and keep phones tucked away, her 16-year-old son was “jumped” from behind by three boys. She described the attackers as also being teenagers.
In a letter to parents yesterday (Thursday) the school said it is now considering banning smartphones and asking all students to leave the building by 5pm for their own safety. A public meeting between parents, the school, police and the council is expected to be held shortly.
Councillor Michelline Ngongo, Islington’s schools chief, said the council were “shocked and concerned to hear about the instances of anti-social behaviour outside St Mary Magdalene Academy” and moved to reassure parents that “while law enforcement is the responsibility of the police” they were actively meeting police and the school to “agree a way forward”.
A police statement said: “Police were called at approximately 16.45hrs on Monday January 23 after a 16-year-old male was the victim of a knifepoint robbery in Liverpool Road. The male sustained a superficial puncture wound during the incident – his phone was stolen.No arrests; enquiries into the circumstances continue.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD5182/23Jan. Or contact the Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
