Police set up scanner to check pupils for weapons | News:
First it was guns. Now its knives. Next, it will be hairbrushes. Then pencils.
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Police set up scanner to check pupils for weapons
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard
03.07.08
Children in Purley had to pass through an airport-style security scanner as police continued a clampdown on knife crime.
The move was part of Operation Blunt 2, launched six weeks ago after a series of killings.
Around 20 police and community support officers were involved in the searches in Surrey, which took place as the children made their way home from school.
Scotland Yard said officers had now searched nearly 27,000 youths since the operation began and seized 528 knives.
There have been 1,214 arrests, 813 of which were for possession of weapons and a further 217 for knife-related crimes.
Mayor Boris Johnson said of the police operation: "It is not a short-term whirlwind offensive against knives.
"It is a sustained visible longterm operation and it is vital to recognise that we cannot hope to succeed by police work alone."
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Local - Anti-surveillance demonstrators hold Stockholm rally
The Local - Anti-surveillance demonstrators hold Stockholm rally:
[Swedes protesting their version of America's "FISA" bill.]
Anti-surveillance demonstrators hold Stockholm rally
Published: 3 Jul 08 17:10 CET
A large crowd gathered in central Stockholm on Thursday afternoon to demonstrate against Sweden's controversial new surveillance law, which continues to generate heated debate more than two weeks after it was approved by the Riksdag.
Reinfeldt: critics 'don't understand' snoop law (3 Jul 08)
Security Service to examine FRA leak (2 Jul 08)
Swedish firm: 'New law will drive businesses out of the country' (30 Jun 08)
An estimated 300-400 people congregated at Mynttorget in Gamla Stan to voice their disaproval of the new law, which will enable the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) to monitor all email and phone calls crossing Sweden's borders.
The protest action organized by the newly formed Banana Republic network brought together leading figures from the opposition Green and Left parties, as well as leaders from the youth organizations of the majority of parties represented in parliament.
Speaking to The Local, Green Party spokeswoman Maria Wetterstrand said that her party was far more scathing in its criticism of the law than potential coalition partners Mona Sahlin and her Social Democrat party.
"Mona has said she will tear up the law should they win the next election. But they will probably replace it with a similar one. We will make sure that doesn't happen," she said.
Wetterstrand also took the opportunity to stock up on some fruit as the event organizers handed out bananas among the crowd.
"They did give me one," said Wetterstrand.
"But I don't think Sweden is on the verge of becoming a banana republic."
As the sun beat down and a samba band prepared to play, Pirate Party leader Rickard Falkvinge addressed the crowd as "my fellow countrymen from the Banana Republic."
The demonstration was the first of two anti-FRA law events scheduled to be held in the capital on Thursday.
During the evening, regulars from the city centre's champagne set are planning to join forces at Café Opera to "party against mass surveillance". At the bar guests will be able to order cocktails named after both the current and previous defence ministers, Mikael Odenberg and Sten Tolgfors, both of whom have argued in favour of the law.
Paul O'Mahony & Faisal Enayat Khan
[Swedes protesting their version of America's "FISA" bill.]
Anti-surveillance demonstrators hold Stockholm rally
Published: 3 Jul 08 17:10 CET
A large crowd gathered in central Stockholm on Thursday afternoon to demonstrate against Sweden's controversial new surveillance law, which continues to generate heated debate more than two weeks after it was approved by the Riksdag.
Reinfeldt: critics 'don't understand' snoop law (3 Jul 08)
Security Service to examine FRA leak (2 Jul 08)
Swedish firm: 'New law will drive businesses out of the country' (30 Jun 08)
An estimated 300-400 people congregated at Mynttorget in Gamla Stan to voice their disaproval of the new law, which will enable the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) to monitor all email and phone calls crossing Sweden's borders.
The protest action organized by the newly formed Banana Republic network brought together leading figures from the opposition Green and Left parties, as well as leaders from the youth organizations of the majority of parties represented in parliament.
Speaking to The Local, Green Party spokeswoman Maria Wetterstrand said that her party was far more scathing in its criticism of the law than potential coalition partners Mona Sahlin and her Social Democrat party.
"Mona has said she will tear up the law should they win the next election. But they will probably replace it with a similar one. We will make sure that doesn't happen," she said.
Wetterstrand also took the opportunity to stock up on some fruit as the event organizers handed out bananas among the crowd.
"They did give me one," said Wetterstrand.
"But I don't think Sweden is on the verge of becoming a banana republic."
As the sun beat down and a samba band prepared to play, Pirate Party leader Rickard Falkvinge addressed the crowd as "my fellow countrymen from the Banana Republic."
The demonstration was the first of two anti-FRA law events scheduled to be held in the capital on Thursday.
During the evening, regulars from the city centre's champagne set are planning to join forces at Café Opera to "party against mass surveillance". At the bar guests will be able to order cocktails named after both the current and previous defence ministers, Mikael Odenberg and Sten Tolgfors, both of whom have argued in favour of the law.
Paul O'Mahony & Faisal Enayat Khan
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