A London man, 46, was arrested after a threatening call put Earl Spencer Primary into lockdown. Police say there is no ongoing risk to the school or the area.

A 46-year-old man from London has been arrested after a threatening phone call put Earl Spencer Primary School into lockdown on Wednesday. Northamptonshire Police says there is no ongoing risk to the school or the wider community.

He was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications on Wednesday night by officers from another force area. On Thursday the force said that, following an assessment, he had been transferred into the care of healthcare professionals. (Northamptonshire Police, 24 September)

What happened at the school

The school, on Streatfield Road on the Spencer estate, received a suspicious phone call from someone making threats just after 11.15am on Wednesday 23 September.

Staff took what the force called “the precautionary decision” to put the school’s lockdown procedures into action. They then called the police. (Northamptonshire Police, 23 September)

Neighbourhood officers went to the school. The force said there was “thankfully nothing to suggest that the threats made were credible”. By Wednesday afternoon it had identified a potential suspect in another force area. The arrest followed that evening.

Earl Spencer is a council-maintained primary for children aged four to 11. It has 352 pupils on the government’s schools register. (Get Information About Schools)

Chief Inspector Nic Davis-Lyons said:

“Any threat made against a school is taken extremely seriously by Northamptonshire Police and officers have been working closely with the school since this incident was reported to investigate the circumstances and identify a suspect.

“We would like to thank the school for the excellent safeguarding procedures it implemented today and for the clear priority it placed on keeping its pupils and staff safe.”

(Northamptonshire Police, 23 September)

A second, unrelated call-out in Muscott Street

The same afternoon, at about 3.10pm, a member of the public reported seeing a man with a suspected firearm in Muscott Street. Armed officers were sent.

Two local men, aged 57 and 19, were arrested in connection with it. The force says the firearm was seized and, when examined, turned out to be a toy gun.

Police stress the two incidents were not linked. Chief Inspector Davis-Lyons said they were “entirely separate events which, very unfortunately, occurred within a mile of each other on the same day”. (Northamptonshire Police, 23 September)

What it means for you

  • No ongoing risk. The force says it is “satisfied that there is no ongoing risk to the school or wider community”.
  • Officers at the school gate. Neighbourhood officers will keep a presence at the school over the coming days. Anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak to them.
  • Arrests are not charges. None of the force’s three statements mentions a charge over either incident. We will report any charging decision the force publishes.
  • If your child is worried, the school’s own contact details are on its website.

The force thanked parents, carers and staff “for their understanding and cooperation”.