Safety arches have been used at Kirklees College in Huddersfield by West Yorkshire Police – the force says, to reassure students and staff visiting the centres.
The arches were placed at the College’s Brunel House Centre and Highfields Centre. Local NPT officers provided a visible presence at the sites with plain clothed officers also used as part of the work.
Around 400 people entering the College were asked to go through the arches and be checked by hand held detectors for any possible weapons.
No weapons were found on anyone going through the arches and the morning was well received by students and staff at the two sites.
Sergeant Dave Stainthorpe of the Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This is the second phase of our safety arch operation and is aimed at reinforcing the good work which has been undertaken at the College over the past few months. It is also a culmination of a number of successful seminars held at the Campus in 2008 by PC Lisa Harley and tackles these very issues.
“The last operation at the College using safety arches was well received and no weapons were detected on the large number of students that passed through. This in itself is obviously very good news but equally important is the opportunity to continue to raise awareness in this way.
“These safety arches have been used for some time across West Yorkshire and are a means of letting people know that we do not have a significant issue with crime involving weapons. Although we don’t experience the problem of other areas, we are not complacent and work hard to keep it that way.
“To hit home the message, our officers will also be speaking to students as they come into college, answering any questions they may have.”
Chris Sadler, Principal of Kirklees College said: "We continually work alongside the local police to keep people at our centres safe and aware. When we used the safety arches at the Huddersfield Centre on New North Road the response from students and staff was very supportive. They felt reassured that the environment they studied and worked in was safe. This initiative at two of our other centres in Huddersfield will help reinforce that message.
