Crackdown on knives at schoolboy games WESTERN BUREAU: THE ST. James police's 'special squad', an arm of the Area One Operational Squad', has launched a new initiative aimed at disarming youngsters who take knives and other offensive weapons to schoolboy football matches. "We have to assume that once a youngster is carrying a knife or any other weapon he plans to use it," said Inspector E. Broadbell, the officer in charge of the special squad. "By taking the knives away from them, we are not only preventing the carriers from getting into trouble but were reducing the potential of unnecessary harm to other patrons." In an operation staged last Saturday at the Zone A daCosta Cup game between Cornwall College and St. James High School, at Jarrett Park, the lawmen seized over 100 weapons of varying type from patrons, mostly school children, as they filed into the venue. The seized weapons, which the police had on display in the back of one of their service units, included scores of ratchet knives, Cuban machetes, scissors, ice picks, 'jammers' and in one instance, an ominous-looking weapon fashioned from a long kitchen folk. "Most of these weapons were taken from the schoolboys," said a concerned Inspector Broadwell, as he surveyed the collection of weapons. "It is also interested to note that not all the weapons were taken from boys, some taken from the schoolgirls as well." While some of the youngsters were seemingly angry at being relieved of their knives, others seem quite pleased to the extent of applauding the police's effort. According to Trudian Jackson, a St. James High School student, she was quite pleased to see the weapons being taken away because according her, it makes her feel a lot safer. "I am happy that the police are taking away the knives," said Trudian Jackson, who acknowledged that she is quite worried by the level of violence in the society. "This is type of action that will make parents feel more comfortable in sending their children to sporting events." Like Jackson, businessman George Evans, the President of the St. James Football Association, welcome the police's initiative. According to him, he hopes that this type of action will not be limited to just schoolboy games but to football games at all levels. "I truly applaud this type of action, anything that will advance the security of patrons at football games should be encouraged," said Evans. "At lot of persons have sustained injuries at games in the past and I am thankful that something is being done to take the weapons out of the hands of patrons." While the weapon-carrying youngsters could be arrested and charged for 'being armed with an offensive weapon', Inspector Broadbell said his unit have chosen not to exercise that option. According to him, their primary goal is to disarm the youngsters.
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