A home-made shotgun was seized during a raid at a high school in Manchester last Thursday.

The shotgun was among several weapons seized by the police during the raid, in which three students were also detained. The students, THE STAR understands, have since been charged with indecent language, assault of a police officer and possession of an offensive weapon.

Other items reportedly confiscated included 25 pairs of scissors, two ratchet knives, three open-blade knives, two round envelopes containing grabba and tobacco, 10 jammers (sharpened ice picks) and condoms.

The police also targeted students who were deemed to be improperly dressed for school.

Some of the male students who were reportedly wearing their pants too tight were then 'loosened up' by the police who used scissors and razors to remove the threading. Female students wearing miniskirts had them lengthened by female police personnel.

The police party was headed by Inspector Anthony Currie of the Christiana police who is also the zone commander for northern Manchester.

The Manchester North Operational support team, school safety resource officers and members of the Island Special Constabulary Force also assisted in the search.

Inspector Currie told THE STAR that the search was part of an ongoing drive by the police to target schools in northern Manchester to eliminate deviant behaviour within the institutions.