‘Fake workman’ forces Birmingham faculty into lockdown as police guard the grounds
Norton Canes High School in Staffordshire was placed in lockdown after an unidentified man entered the grounds claiming to be carrying out work – police are now maintaining a presence at the site
Norton Canes High School(Image: Google)
A was plunged into lockdown after a fake workman gained access to the premises. The incident occurred around 12.30pm yesterday, Tuesday, March 3, when a man claiming to be conducting work at Norton Canes High School, near Cannock in Staffordshire, entered the grounds at approximately 11.50am.
However, when he subsequently couldn’t be located, the school initiated a lockdown as a safety measure. Staffordshire Police were called and officers are maintaining a presence at the school today, reports Birmingham Live.
Sarah Diggory, the school’s headteacher, stated: “Following a report of an unidentified person entering the school grounds, the school acted in the interests of student and staff safety by implementing a precautionary lockdown at 12.30pm on Tuesday, March 3.
“An immediate response team was dispatched by Staffordshire Police who attended the site. Thorough checks were made by police and the full school site was declared safe at approximately 1.45pm.
“All students and staff were safe thanks to the swift actions of the leadership team and the police. The police have stated that procedures were correctly followed. Police will be present tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4, at the start and end of school.
“The school practices lockdown drills regularly to ensure students and staff understand the procedures – these were carried out impeccably by all today.
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“I would like to thank all students and staff for their cooperation and resilience in today’s event and parents for their patience and support in this unprecedented situation.”
Staffordshire Police described the individual as a white male, aged between his late 40s and early 50s, who was wearing a high-visibility yellow jumper.
The force stated: “Officers were contacted at 12.30pm this afternoon and told Norton Canes High School had gone into lockdown as a precautionary measure.
“At approximately 11.50am, a man had arrived at the school and told staff he was there to carry out work. He entered the external grounds of the school but was unaccounted for.
“There is currently no indication he went inside any school buildings. He is described as a white man, in his late 40s or early 50s, with dark hair.
“He was wearing a fluorescent yellow jumper with a blue gilet on top. Following a search by officers, lockdown measures were lifted at the school at about 2pm.”
