Police knife arch operation at West Herts College

5:30pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter

Police knife arch operation at West Herts College Police knife arch operation at West Herts College

Students from West Herts College were searched by police officers this morning.

A total of 25 PCs and PCSOs turned up unannounced and carried out body-searches, as well as using "knife arches" to scan for offensive weapons.

Sergeant Scott Curran said: "It’s good for the college and stops people even contemplating bringing something inappropriate to college.

"Although Watford has quite low knife crime, we want people to know it’s unacceptable for them to bring one into this environment."

Plain clothes officers were also on hand to keep an eye on the 800 students as they made their way through the reception hall.

Sgt Curran added: "Sometimes people walk in and see the arches and walk away and it’s the job of the plain clothes officers to spot those."

As well as searching students, the officers gave out personal alarms, safety advice, flyers and ran a recruitment information desk.

Emma Doree, director of learner services, added: This is the fourth time in five years that we have invited officers into run a safety day - it is a really beneficial exercise for all involved.

"Today was a particularly successful exercise and, as far as we are aware, all students were compliant."

Comments(15)

MarsLander says...
6:10pm Wed 23 Jan 13

How many did they find?

What constitutes "a particularly useful exercise"?

This story is not complete without the facts. How many knives were found and how many were confiscated?

Was anyone arrested?

Come on, the story is not that people were searched, it's the results of that search.

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crazyfrog says...
8:25pm Wed 23 Jan 13

This would be a good idea at places like watford junction and met stations on friday/saturday nights

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Roger Joslyn says...
8:55pm Wed 23 Jan 13

"All students were compliant" - guess that means everyone walked through and no knives were found. Let's hope they don't find any tomorrow as well.

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Razor Sharp says...
10:09pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Is it really a useful exercise when it's done less than once a year?

If you're used to London colleges, scores are usually settled violently by third parties just outside college grounds. The college is then powerless to act against the party that engaged another to carry out the 'punishment'.

It's a smart way to play the college system.

Would a student really be so stupid as to stab someone on college premises in front of so many physical and virtual witnesses?

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KAren Smythe says...
10:35pm Wed 23 Jan 13

The police are forever turning up at that college. Its full of Degenerates. I've seen students smoking drugs in the town hall car park and the amount of morons who scream around there in their chavvy little cars is unbelieveable.

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TRT says...
10:37pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Razor Sharp wrote:
Is it really a useful exercise when it's done less than once a year?

If you're used to London colleges, scores are usually settled violently by third parties just outside college grounds. The college is then powerless to act against the party that engaged another to carry out the 'punishment'.

It's a smart way to play the college system.

Would a student really be so stupid as to stab someone on college premises in front of so many physical and virtual witnesses?
I've seen it. It happens. There is no limit to stupidity. I've personally called the police to intercept WHC students (or others visiting the campus) on at least ten occasions during the years I worked there. Drugs, knives, stolen goods, threats, car offences, vandalism... it's low level, very low level, but it does happen.

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MarsLander says...
8:55am Thu 24 Jan 13

KAren Smythe wrote:
The police are forever turning up at that college. Its full of Degenerates. I've seen students smoking drugs in the town hall car park and the amount of morons who scream around there in their chavvy little cars is unbelieveable.
Are you referring to the Liberal councillors in the Town Hall car park or someone else?

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oddjobman says...
9:15am Thu 24 Jan 13

MarsLander wrote:
How many did they find?

What constitutes "a particularly useful exercise"?

This story is not complete without the facts. How many knives were found and how many were confiscated?

Was anyone arrested?

Come on, the story is not that people were searched, it's the results of that search.
Couldn't agree more with Marslander's comments. Once again, only half a story here. Don't the WO journalists ask any searching questions? Oops, pun NOT intended!

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G_Whiz says...
12:09pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Everyone seems so upset - I think we should embrace our new liberal gangsta' Britain!

Let's just be more positive - Rap videos and lyrics, violent games/films, Eastenders, big brother, Shameless, ibiza uncovered, road wars etc won't influence all of our kids! - a lot of them maybe, but not all of them!

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Andrew Turpie says...
4:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13

G_Whiz wrote:
Everyone seems so upset - I think we should embrace our new liberal gangsta' Britain!

Let's just be more positive - Rap videos and lyrics, violent games/films, Eastenders, big brother, Shameless, ibiza uncovered, road wars etc won't influence all of our kids! - a lot of them maybe, but not all of them!
Jail all who wear drop crotch jeans and walk like they have half a brick in each shoe!

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KAren Smythe says...
4:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13

MarsLander wrote:
KAren Smythe wrote:
The police are forever turning up at that college. Its full of Degenerates. I've seen students smoking drugs in the town hall car park and the amount of morons who scream around there in their chavvy little cars is unbelieveable.
Are you referring to the Liberal councillors in the Town Hall car park or someone else?
Grow up.

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TRT says...
4:42pm Thu 24 Jan 13

The vast majority of the students there are hard working and see their studies as a way of both keeping off the streets and being in a better position to get a job. There are a few who fall into the previous category but who still behave like Richards sometimes in but mostly out of the classroom for whatever reason. And then there are the one or two who just spoil it for the rest by bringing their gang culture, bad attitude, disrespect and/or criminality into a place of study. They often attract their "friends" from outside into the environment, and then things get ugly. I'm glad to say the new building appears to be constructed with improved access control in mind, though nothing is perfect. In an ideal world, that shouldn't be needed, but sadly it is.

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MarsLander says...
6:19pm Thu 24 Jan 13

KAren Smythe wrote:
MarsLander wrote:
KAren Smythe wrote:
The police are forever turning up at that college. Its full of Degenerates. I've seen students smoking drugs in the town hall car park and the amount of morons who scream around there in their chavvy little cars is unbelieveable.
Are you referring to the Liberal councillors in the Town Hall car park or someone else?
Grow up.
Sense of humour failure?

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MarsLander says...
6:20pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Andrew Turpie wrote:
G_Whiz wrote:
Everyone seems so upset - I think we should embrace our new liberal gangsta' Britain!

Let's just be more positive - Rap videos and lyrics, violent games/films, Eastenders, big brother, Shameless, ibiza uncovered, road wars etc won't influence all of our kids! - a lot of them maybe, but not all of them!
Jail all who wear drop crotch jeans and walk like they have half a brick in each shoe!
Harsh but strangely compelling...

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LawAbidingCitizen82 says...
4:58pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Just seems like a waste of time and money to me. I wonder whether they have ever found any weapons on somebody over the 4 or 5 years they have done this at the college.

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