Knife Incident at Local College

11.36.32am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 28th Jan 2008

Vincent Cable MP met staff at the Tertiary College last week and discussed the implications of the Tuesday knife incident in the grounds of the College. Several members of staff were aware of the potential for conflict between rival gangs from south London and reported that some young people brought knives for their own protection - while stressing that there had never previously been an episode at the College and that the College was a very safe environment. Others expressed concern over the heavy police presence at the station - 15 to 20 officers over several days.

Vincent Cable said: "Knife crime is mercifully rare in the Borough and this incident was imported by gangs from other parts of London settling their quarrels in the College grounds. I don't want to see US-style searches at the entrance to colleges and schools but if episodes of this kind are repeated, it will become necessary.

"It is not good that behaviour problems of a few detract from the genuine academic and vocational achievements of the College. And it is not good for the image and self-confidence of Twickenham that the vast majority of law abiding residents and students have to run the gauntlet of major police operations at the station.

"One awkward issue will have to be faced as to whether the future of the College is in providing an educational facility for all of south and west London, with its associated social problems, or with a narrower focus in the educational needs of post-16 teenagers from the Borough."