OZschwitz: Tons of weapons detected in court

Subject: OZschwitz: Tons of weapons detected in court Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:45 pm

AN ARSENAL of lethal weapons - and a budgie smuggled in a bag - have been detected at the state's court security checkpoints.

While the bagged budgie took the prize for the most bizarre find, the chilling cache of knives, knuckle dusters, machetes and meat cleavers has astonished even senior security staff members.

Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the discoveries showed the value of a new $15million security system that had been installed in 30 courthouses across the state.

"The repeated discovery of deadly weapons concealed on court users proves the Iemma Government's investment in courthouse security has paid off," he said.

"The Government will continue being vigilant to make sure the thugs who try to take weapons to court don't make it through the front door."

Mr Hatzistergos said two new mobile screening units, used to increase security quickly for high-risk cases, would complement the airport-style metal detectors and X-ray machines already in use.

He said each of the $190,000 Mercedes vans was fitted with screening equipment including a portable X-ray machine, a walk-through metal detector and handheld scanning devices.

"The units are an innovative and relatively inexpensive way of ensuring courts that sit less frequently can still access world-class security when necessary," Mr Hatzistergos said.

The new rapid response units are based in Blacktown and Newcastle but are available to service virtually any court in NSW. They had already been used in courts in the Hunter Valley and on the Far North Coast, allowing smaller courts to deal safely with matters that required extra security.

"Previously these matters might have been transferred to city courts at considerable expense to taxpayers, lawyers and other court users," Mr Hatzistergos said. "The vans will reduce the need to reconfigure some heritage-listed courts to accommodate large permanent screening systems."

The 2008-09 state budget has earmarked $1.5million to the NSW Sheriff's Office - responsible for court safety - for additional security.

And sheriff's officers had been given capsicum spray and the power to make arrests, Mr Hatzistergos said.

LNK

Statists seeking protection for their evil deeds...

Looking forward to reading in the papers, how somebody took out a whole courthouse... with all their 'worthy' employees...

OZschwitz: Tons of weapons detected in court

OZschwitz: Tons of weapons detected in court

Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives

Via AnCaps: Law & Enforced Unnatural Order