One member has had his life threatened and had to move and yet that case was ultimately proved to be a false claim

Lexie Scott

"This situation is exacerbated in Northern Ireland because we are such a small community.

"We have had situations where for example one member has had his life threatened and had to move and yet that case was ultimately proved to be a false claim."

Last month another teachers union called for teachers to be protected from violent pupils.

The NAS/UWT said it was wrong that some schools cannot expel pupils who attack teachers at their home rather than in school.

The union said the reasons for the upsurge included fragmentation of the paramilitary organisations which used to exert some control, more lenient treatment by the courts and a demoralised police force.