Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many violent incidents involving knives there have been at jobcentres in (a) the UK and (b) Nottinghamshire in the last (i) one (ii) three and (iii) five years.

In the year to March 2018 incidents reported through the Department’s Serious Incident (Fast Track) Reporting process identified 11 incidences where knives were brought into our offices, whether to threaten, harm or self-harm. For the three year period April 2015 to March 2018 there were 28 identified and for the five year period April 2013 to March 2018 the total is 49.

No Nottinghamshire sites are included in the figures above.

Robust controls are in place to mitigate the risk of unacceptable customer behaviour (UCB) and eliminate violent incidents as far as reasonably practicable; including security presence, risk assessments and training for our staff. We review outcomes of our most serious incidents and consider any lessons learned to make improvements to our processes and training when necessary to help prevent reoccurrence.