By Ethan Davies and Henry Durand

Police seized a machete and 39 knives from Greater Manchester schools last year as cops were called to nearly 100 weapons incidents.

Three knuckle dusters, two hammers, a saw, a pole, and 39 knives were also among the 93 weapons seized by Greater Manchester Police, new freedom of information figures show. In all, GMP was called to schools 99 times over reports of weapons last academic year.

Now, a Manchester teacher says pupils often carry the blades because they fear they'll be attacked.

 "I had the opportunity to ask a pupil why they'd brought a weapon to school – they told me they had no intention of using it, but other people on the streets had them. This was otherwise a good kid," said Charlotte, who declined to give her surname.

"Many young people feel vulnerable on the streets, and while they have no intention of initiating a knife attack, they carry them with them through fear they'll be attacked."

The 'shocking' stats 'highlight the scale of the problem needing to be dealt with to keep children safe within and outside schools', according to Dr Patrick Roach, the general secretary of teachers' union NASUWT.

"Our schools are doing a lot to promote good behaviour, but they need much more support to deal with a weapon-carrying culture that is now an epidemic," he added. "No young person should feel the need to carry a weapon."

And the revelations come just days after the government imposed a ban on zombie knives and machetes — with one leading figure also suggesting youngsters might not realise they're committing a crime by carrying the weapons.

Patrick Green, the chief executive of The Ben Kinsella Trust, explained: "Children are often unaware of the seriousness of the offence they are committing or likely consequences of their actions.

"These figures highlight the pressing need for schools to do more to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a knife."

GMP schemes to tackle youth knife crime include Forever Amnesty, which set up 13 anonymous knife bins in the region.

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