THE dangers of guns and knives have been spelled out to youngsters in Huddersfield.
School children at the Netherhall Learning Campus in Rawthorpe yesterday spent a day with the police to learn all about the risks and consequences of becoming involved in gun and knife crime.
Officers set up one of their safety arches, designed to detect concealed weapons, to show the youngsters that hidden knives and guns could easily be detected.
Pc Neil Taylor, Netherhall’s school-based officer, organised the day and said the project could make a real difference.
He said: “If we can get the message across to the children now, in the future it will be clear in their minds just how dangerous weapons such as guns and knives can be.
“As we have said before, violent incidents involving knives or guns are thankfully rare in West Yorkshire and we do not experience the problems that have been seen in other parts of the country.
“However, we can’t be complacent and the more we can do to educate young people about the perils of knife crime or gun crime, the more we can limit the risks to them and the community.”
Joan Young, the head teacher at the school, supported the police’s pro-active approach.
She said: “We want to keep all our students safe and this is an effective way or raising awareness of the danger of knife and gun crime.”
The pupils also saw a computer based presentation during a question and answer session with Pc Lisa Harley of the Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team.
And they were also asked to design an anti-weapon poster with the winner being promised an iPod and a police certificate.
The winning entry designed by Vesmira Krkic, 13, warned youngsters to think twice about wasting their cash on weapons.
It said: ‘Stop! Respect your life not a knife’.
Vesmira was congratulated by the school’s head teacher and by Pc Taylor.
The poster is now set to be displayed at bus stations in Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse.
