140+ offences: Warwick’s most dangerous schools revealed – full list

Almost 150 alleged crimes have been reported at schools in Warwick and across the state’s southwest in the past year, with new data revealing which campus has had the most police call-outs. SEE HOW YOUR SCHOOL RANKS:

Close to 150 crimes have been reported at schools across Warwick and wider southwest Queensland in the past 12 months, with new police data revealing the schools with the most alleged offences.

It was only last week that police were called to a reported wounding with a knife at Warwick State High School, which left one student needing several stitches in their leg, and just a few months after a principal was assaulted by a parent at a Southern Downs primary school.

Other notable incidents at southwest Queensland schools within the past year include another Warwick High student allegedly wounding another with a baton and later pulling a fishing knife from his bag, and a frightening online trend that saw students across Kingaroy and the South Burnett region filming themselves in violent brawls and posting the videos to dedicated social media pages.

All incidents were reported to police at the time.

New data from the Queensland Police Service from the past 12 months has revealed that dozens more alleged crimes have taken place within the gates of schools right across the state’s southwest, ranging from assaults to drug and weapons offences.

The highest number of alleged offences in Warwick and the wider Southern Downs was recorded at Warwick High, with five reported assaults, two break-ins, and one weapons offence among those in the past 12 months.

The below table shows the full breakdown of alleged crimes reported at each southwest Queensland school within the past 12 months, including only those officially recorded by police.

Schools not listed did not have any offences recorded in QPS data.

A Queensland Police spokesman told the Courier Mail that officers were committed to ensuring safety for all parties on school grounds.

“Parents should know that police take these matters extremely seriously and work closely with Education Queensland and the community to educate students on their safety, both within schools and the community,” he said.

“If a weapons offence is reported to police, immediate and necessary action is taken.”

A trial program to raise awareness among young people aged 14 to 24 about the dangers of carrying a knife or other weapons was first rolled out by police in the Logan district in 2019, and its success saw the campaign spread right across the state in 2021.

The Dalby and Chinchilla regions recorded low numbers of weapons and other serious offences when compared to the Southern Downs, South Burnett, and Maranoa districts.

A combined 11 alleged assaults were reported at Murgon State High School, Kingaroy State High School, and Nanango State High School, with another six drug offences at the latter two schools.

Police recorded break-ins, thefts, and other property-related crime at almost every school across the southwest within this same period.

A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed their office was aware of the incident at Warwick High last week, saying school leadership called emergency services to the scene to safely manage the situation.

“The school has co-operated with QPS during investigations and consequences were applied in line with the student code of conduct,” they said.

“The principal has also held a whole-school assembly to remind students that this behaviour is not representative of the school’s values, the school’s proud history of achievement, and that students are not permitted to bring sharp objects to school.

“The student wellbeing team was mobilised for immediate student support and the school contacted the parents of students directly impacted.”

The spokesperson said Queensland state schools remained one of the safest places in the community for young people, and that any situation threatening the safety and wellbeing of students or staff was treated seriously.

“Every state school has a Student Code of Conduct that identifies the school’s expectations about behaviour and outlines the possible range of consequences that may be used to respond to inappropriate behaviour,” they said.

“This includes physical aggression or the use of illicit or banned substances.

“Depending on the situation and assessment of risk, principals may determine it is necessary to contact the Queensland Police Service to seek further assistance or report a serious incident.”