Wednesday, 1 July 2009 - 5:13pm |
National News

Arrests at a Hamilton college

1 min read

Hamilton Police and Fairfield College management are running parallel investigations into an incident which saw one student injured and two arrested at the school this morning.

Sergeant Jim Cassin of the North Hamilton Community Policing Centre said officers were called to the school at about 9.45am after reports of a large group of children fighting.

"Initial indications are that two female year nine students aged 13 and 14-years-old have set upon a female year 13 student, punching her about the face as she tried to enter a room.

"The victim's boyfriend has tried to intervene and was set upon by the original offenders and a larger group that included several male students."

School staff responding to existing emergency plans extracted the pair to safety and called Police with about eight officers responding to the incident.

Following the removal of the offenders school management met with staff to take steps to mitigate any further risks, these steps included keeping students in their classes and a low profile Police presence in and around the school.

The 17-year-old female victim suffered bruising and swelling to her head and neck but declined the offered medical assistance.

Both offenders were arrested and charged with assault, a 14-year-old girl appeared in the Hamilton District Court this afternoon while her 13-year-old co-accused has been referred to Youth Aid.

Hamilton Police are continuing to work with school management and the Ministry of Education and will have a presence at the school tomorrow.

Media wishing comment from Fairfield College are advised to contact the commissioner, Denis Finn on 027 2814113.

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