As part of efforts to tackle violence in educational institutions, France plans to introduce regular checks of students’ backpacks upon entering schools. According to BFMTV, this was announced by the Minister of Education, former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.
Borne emphasized the need for rapid implementation of measures to prevent violence both in and around schools. Among the proposed changes are unannounced checks of the backpacks of everyone entering educational facilities. The police are expected to take on this responsibility.
Currently, school security personnel do not have the right to search backpacks independently in case of suspicion; only visual inspections are allowed. If there are suspicions, a student may be asked to empty their backpack, but they are not obliged to comply.
Furthermore, Borne proposed a rule whereby students caught carrying knives or other cold weapons at school would be required to regularly attend disciplinary committees.
Recently, the French National Assembly also supported, in its first reading, a bill from Macron’s bloc aimed at toughening the accountability of minors for serious crimes to counter “growing violence” among youth.
