Northampton College buys knife arches to reassure students after incident
Northampton College has bought knife arches to reassure students following an incident last week at the Booth Lane campus.
Armed officers were called to the site at around noon on Thursday January 8 and a 16-year-old boy was arrested by police on suspicion of possessing a knife.
It is understood that it was an isolated area and there was no threat to the wider college community.
The college has responded to concerns raised by both students and parents following the incident, with many calling for additional security measures to be put in place. Others highlighted concerns over young people and knife crime.
On Monday, Northamptonshire Police operated knife arches for the day at the main entrance of the campus.
In a statement issued to the Chronicle & Echo, principal Jason Lancaster, said the college was now purchasing their own knife arches.
“The college operates rigorous safeguarding and security protocols every day. These include controlled access points, trained security personnel, robust visitor procedures, and close working relationships with Northamptonshire Police and local community safety partners,” he said.
“We routinely carry out thorough bag checks using state-of-the-art knife arches. These security searches were once again carried out at our Booth Lane campus on Monday morning, with students having to pass through an arch on their way into college.
“These arches were supplied and staffed by Northamptonshire Police. However, the college has purchased its own arches and we will now be utilising these to conduct further checks,” he added.
Mr Lancaster said he understood the concerns within the college community and wider public and wanted outline the college response.
“Firstly, Northampton College is a safe and welcoming college. Our immediate priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors and this is something that we pride ourselves on, with an exceptional level of care and attention to detail from highly experienced professionals ensuring everyone at our Booth Lane, Lower Mounts and Daventry campuses is kept safe every day.
“According to our latest student survey, carried out in 2024/25, the overwhelming majority (94 per cent) of our students feel safe at college.
“The strategic response agreed between the college and Northamptonshire Police in last week’s incident meant that officers were on site within minutes, with particular blocks of the college isolated to restrict movement. A student at the college was quickly detained by officers and arrested.
“Students and primary emergency contacts received communication from us at the earliest opportunity to advise that an incident had taken place and had been resolved.”
Mr Lancaster said the college leadership team continually reviews security procedures and incident response plans. A further review has been carried out following the incident.
“This gives us an opportunity to enhance what we already do: planning for emergencies, communicating quickly and clearly, and training our community to respond effectively to potential threats,” Mr Lancaster added.
“We continue to work closely and constructively with Northamptonshire Police both to ensure safety on our campuses but also to support efforts to address knife crime in our community. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, to report concerns promptly, and to support one another.
“While the college itself remains a safe learning environment, we cannot ignore the reality that, unfortunately, knife crime is a serious issue across Northamptonshire and the rest of the UK, affecting communities of all sizes. As a microcosm of society, our college reflects the broader context in which we all live and work.
“Through strong leadership, effective safeguarding and security procedures, and a commitment to learning, improving and protecting our community every day, we remain committed to ensuring Northampton College continues to be a safe environment for its students and staff.”
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police confirmed that officers were on site on Monday.
“Students were selected at random and asked to remove all metal items before walking through the knife arches. Officers were also positioned outside the building for any students who chose not to enter after being advised of the process, ensuring the operation remained voluntary and proportionate. The operation formed part of ongoing work between the police, the college, and the wider community to deter knife crime and keep young people safe,” the spokesperson added.