Recommendation MAI-60: Record images of students with weapons
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 3: Radicalisation and Preventability, published 2 March 2023.
Recommendation
I recommend to all educational establishments and the Department for Education that images of school pupils or college students handling firearms, explosives or other weapons that come to the attention of staff be recorded as a potential indicator of violent extremism, unless there is a very clear innocent explanation, so that this can be taken into account in any assessment of vulnerability to radicalisation.
In brief (written by this site)
The Cabinet Office stated in February 2026 that the recommendation was complete, reporting that it had analysed sector responses after it "utilised the existing call for evidence" on the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance to inform its response (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It had given the same progress update in November 2025, when it also recorded the status as complete (Cabinet Office, Nov 2025). The UK Government originally accepted the recommendation in full in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (27 February 2026)
We utilised the existing call for evidence on the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KSCIE) statutory guidance to gather views from the sector to inform our response. We have these and have analysed the responses.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
We utilised the existing call for evidence on the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KSCIE) statutory guidance to gather views from the sector to inform our response. We have these and have analysed the responses.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Source
Responsible bodies
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement