Injuries spark calls for fences without spikes

Tony Waring was injured as a child and says the 'antiquated, horrible' spikes have to go. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Eighteen children have been impaled on school fences in the past 10 years, prompting calls to remove dangerous spikes before someone is killed.

The most recent cases last month involved a boy of 11 and a girl of 14 who were impaled on school arrow-headed fences.

Figures obtained by the Herald show that at least 21 people have been impaled on schoolyard fences since December 2001, 18 of whom were children.

People have also been impaled on fences at a car yard, hotel and church.

In many cases, the spikes were cut from the fence by firefighters, the victim taken to hospital and the spikes removed surgically.

Papatoetoe senior station officer Lance Blyde said such impalings were "real difficult" situations.

"Often, by the time we get there, these kids have been hanging on the fences for 10 or 15 minutes ... Most of them are in shock."

Mr Blyde said he did not think the arrowheads were a deterrent and it was time for them to be removed before anyone else was hurt.

"I'm aware the [Ministry of Education] has got a big problem with graffiti ... I fully support their endeavours in making their schools secure but we are obviously concerned when the things they are putting up for security are injuring kids."

The call is supported by Mt Albert resident Tony Waring, 56, who still bears a scar from the time he fell on a spiked churchyard fence as a child of 6.

"I just can't bear the thought of kids suffering like this - they really are medieval, antiquated, horrible things and we need to get rid of them," Mr Waring said.

According to Ministry of Education guidelines, schools are not allowed to have fences that can cause harm. Those that do are meant to "eliminate, isolate or minimise the hazard, such as removing cut-steel arrow-heads and replacing them with cast arrow-heads".

Jermone Sheppard of the ministry said it drew up new guidelines for schools after the issue was raised in 2007 by the Fire Service.

However, it was up to boards of trustees to ensure the safety of students in schools.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said student safety was paramount and if parents had any concerns they should raise them with their board of trustees or contact the ministry.

Mt Maunganui College principal Terry Collett said the school had no plans to change the spiked security fence on which a 14-year-old girl's leg was impaled as she was rushing to class 10 days ago.

"The gate is there as a deterrent to stop people using the school as a thoroughfare, especially during school time.

"It's a very high gate and you'd be silly to think of it."

The Year 11 girl received stitches for the wound and has returned to school.

IMPALINGS

* 2011 - Mt Maunganui College, Liston College.

* 2007 - Favona Primary School, Waitakere College, New Lynn Primary, Mountain View School, Pomaria Rd School.

* 2006 - Papakura High School, Auckland Girls Grammar (adult).

* 2005 - St Columba's Primary, Kelston Boys High School.

* 2004 - Mangere College, St Teresa School (Karori, Wellington).

* 2003 - East Tamaki School (adult), Manurewa High School, Green Bay High School, James Cook High School, Papakura High School, Manukau Institute of Technology (adult).

* 2002 - Raumati South School.

* 2001 - Owairoa School.