Kids as young as 12 are carrying corrosive acid to school as an alternative weapon to knives
Teenagers from London schools revealed acid is preferred to knives as it's easier to smuggle and use for 'self defence'
TEENAGERS have swapped blades for bottles in UK schools and now smuggle acid hidden in drinks containers to use as weapons.
Gang culture has been blamed for the spike in acid and ammonia use in schools as kids as young as 12 have been caught carrying the corrosive liquid 'for self defence'.
Speaking anonymously, youngsters from London schools revealed carrying acid was easier than carrying knives.
The kids said the practice, known as 'dosing', is on the increase before describing the methods of how to obtain and disguise the dangerous substances.
Earlier this year three boys aged 12, 13 and 15 were arrested after a suspected acid attack at an east London school.
Three other pupils were rushed to hospital from the Sydney Russell School in Dagenham after they were allegedly sprayed by the trio.
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The anonymous teens revealed schoolchildren fill their drinks bottles with cheap household cleaners that can be used more easily than a knife.
"You can get that [acid] for, like, £5 and f*** someone's whole life up," one 18-year-old told The Sunday Times last week. "Or you can just buy ammonia: that's just £3."
"Just keep it in a drinks bottle," he added.
The boy says he has kept "dose" with him since he was 12 to protect himself. "A lot of people ain't got the heart to stab people... it's just easier to to squirt someone."
Another pupil admitted it was "easier carrying acid than a shank [knife]" but said police were becoming more aware of the problem.
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, of the Metropolitan police's East Area Command, said the officers are working with schools to tackle the growing problem.
"Assaults involving corrosive liquid such as acids are horrific and the impact on victims can be devastating," he said.