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A MAN was being quizzed by police today after a social worker was stabbed in the back in a school.

The 36-year-old was rushed to the University Hospital of Hartlepool for emergency surgery with the knife embedded in her back, as revealed on the Mail's website yesterday.
The Durham County Council employee was due to attend a meeting at Glendene School and Community Arts College, in Crawlaw Road, Easington Colliery, when the attack happened.
A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and continues to be questioned at Peterlee Police Station today.
The social worker, from Chester-le-Street, was operated on yesterday and has since been transferred to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where her condition was described as critical, but stable.
A spokesman for Durham Police said the woman had been due to take part in a pre-arranged meeting about a pupil at the school, along with staff and members of the pupil's family.
The spokesman added: "The exact sequence of events are still being established, but it would appear, prior to the meeting getting underway, she was attacked and stabbed, which left her with a knife embedded in her back."
The social worker was treated by paramedics at the scene, before being taken to hospital.
It is not thought any pupils witnessed the incident and a suspect was arrested in the school.
A major inquiry is now underway and the room in which the attack happened, shortly after 10.30am yesterday, was cordoned off for a full forensic examination.
An incident room has also been set up at Peterlee Police Station. Police were interviewing the suspect, a man from Murton, today.
The school, which is a day special school that caters for children with a broad range of special educational needs, remained open yesterday.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Veitch, of Peterlee Police, said: "This was a very serious assault, but I must stress that this type of incident is, thankfully, very rare.
"Inquiries are at an early stage and we are working with the school, social services and health professionals to establish all the facts."
School headteacher, Eric Baker, said: "The incident took place well away from any areas occupied by our children and no children, or school staff, were involved.
"Our thoughts are with the social worker and her family."

Villagers tell of their shock
THE stabbing of a social worker at a special school in a former east Durham mining village has rocked the community.
The Glendene School and Community Arts College, which caters for 150 children, aged from just two to 19, is a focal point for many people in Easington Colliery.
And yesterday's events rocked the village to its very core.
Miriam Winthrop, 65, from nearby Londonderry Bungalows, said: "I'm really shocked, it's an awful shame.
"You never see any trouble at the school.
"You're not safe, are you? This is the third stabbing in the area in the last few months."
The mothers of two children at the school, who live nearby, said they couldn't believe what had happened.
One, who did not wish to be named, said: "We don't know whether our children were there when it happened.
"We haven't really been told what's gone on.
Another added: "You don't expect this sort of thing to happen round here.
"Glendene is an excellent school. For this kind of thing to happen in any school is shocking.
Charlotte Heckles, who accompanies some children to school with Murton-based taxi firm Bobby Dove Taxis, said: "I don't really know much. We were told to pick the children up early because there'd been an 'incident'.
"We usually pick them up at 3.20pm but had to come at 2.45pm instead."
Mary Wilson, 47, lives in nearby George Avenue and escorts some of the children to and from school.
She said: "All I know is there's been an incident and the children are coming out of the building one by one."

'Security taken seriously'
EDUCATION chiefs say they take security at schools "very seriously".
Neil Charlton, deputy director of education at Durham County Council said: "The county council is doing all it can to assist the school at this extremely distressing time.
"Education and social care specialists, including counsellors, are working with staff at the school, and social work colleagues, to give help where it is needed. "Our thoughts are particularly with the social worker, her family and her colleagues at this most distressing time.
"Schools and the county council take security very seriously and measures are in place to safeguard children.
"But we cannot turn our schools into virtual prisons, making it an uncomfortable learning environment for pupils and staff."
Glendene's headteacher, Eric Baker, said: "The incident took place well away from any areas occupied by our children and no children, or school staff, were involved.
"Immediate action was taken and emergency services were on the premises within minutes of our call.
"The safety of the children and staff is our major priority and will always remain so.
"Our thoughts are with the social worker and her family."

'A dangerous job'
SOCIETY does not realise the dangers social workers face, it was claimed today.
Stan Smith, chair of the North-East branch of the British Association of Social Workers, said attacks on social workers are on the increase.
Reacting to yesterday's attack he told the Mail: "First and foremost it is a terribly sad incident.
"Social workers do deal with difficult situations on a day-to-day basis. They attend to the best needs of a child and will be at odds with families from time -to-time.
"Society as a whole do not realise the dangers that social workers face. The work they carry out can be dangerous, but that is not made clear to the general public."
"I get the impression that attacks on social workers are on the increase."

21 October 2006

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