Local MP David Davies has called for a full police inquiry after a a Croesyceiliog School teacher was hospitalised after a student dropped full can of coke four storeys onto her head

The incident happened last Friday, when teacher Jane Breeze who is from Abergavenny, was knocked unconscious by the can and had to be treated at the Royal Gwent Hospital for head injuries

But Mr Davies said he was shocked to hear that though the police were called, they decided that it was best if the incident was dealt with under the school's "Crime beat protocol."

Mr Davies said, "The victim was visited in hospital on Friday morning by a senior member of staff and told that the police had been informed. She assumed that a police investigation would be taking place.

"In fact the police have told me that although they were informed about the incident they were told that it would be dealt with under the school 'Crime beat protocol'. This is a set of Welsh Assembly regulations which were drawn up to stop the police from being called to make arrests every time a minor incident happens in school."

Mr Davies expressed his fears that the Crime Beat Protocol is being used cover up serious incidents in schools, and has called for a change to the Welsh Assembly guidance to stop this from happening.

Mr Davies said, "This was not a minor incident. The teacher could easily have been killed or left paralysed and she is still unwell and receiving medical care. I am astonished that someone thought it would be appropriate to keep the police away and try to deal with it within the school."

Mr Davies has since contacted Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston who has now instigated a full investigation. Mr Davies says he is now is trying to establish whether the failure to act immediately was as a result of the Welsh Assembly guidelines or a failure to understand them by Torfaen Local Education Authority.

Mr Davies said, "Teachers should have the right to safely go about their business without fear of receiving serious injuries and they should be able to rely on their management to back them if they are attacked."

=A Gwent Police police spokesperson said, "Gwent Police was called to Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School to a report of a teacher being injured by a falling object. An officer attended and Gwent Police is currently investigating an allegation of assault.

"No arrests have been made, and as the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."