Tony Roe oversees more than 2,300 students in his role as headteacher of Barking Abbey School in Sandringham Road.

In recent years, and like many schools across London, surrounding roads and parks have become the scenes of police incidents.

Since Mr Roe assumed his position as head in 2020, Newsquest London understands there have been five stabbings of young people nearby.

One pupil was stabbed in Longbridge Road and left in life-threatening condition.

The approach to knife crime in schools is one that has changed following a decision taken in May that saw safer schools officers (SSOs) dissolved.

SSOs were first introduced to schools in London in 2009 to provide visibility, support, and early intervention to crime in education place settings.

More than 370 school officers were stripp

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