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Stab-Proof Uniforms Under Attack in UK

Friday 31st of August 2007 10:23:30 PM

Since uniform manufacturer Bladerunner began selling stab-proof blazers and jumpers after receiving numerous requests from concerned parents,there have been many discussions about whether these uniforms protect children or scare them into believing they will be the next victim of a knife attack as a way to increase sales. While UK school officials say the percentage of being attacked in schools is low, there is an increasing number of parents who are buying the uniforms anyway.

"I understand that parents have concerns around this issue and that is why the police service is working closely with Government and the education services to ensure that school environments are safe for children and young people to be in,” said a spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). In the past 10 months, there have been eight reports of attacks on school age boys under the age of sixteen by other boys.

Bladerunner insists that it is only complying with the requests of parents and is not trying to scare people into buying the uniforms, which are outfitted with Kevlar. "Maybe the Education Minister needs to speak to some of those parents to see how they feel rather than suggest we are scaremongering. From what I can see there's enough parents who are actually worried about their children, (but) I don't think knife attacks are taking place on a major scale in schools but I'd certainly question how many youngsters are actually carrying knives,” said BladeRunner's director, Barry Samms.

As for parents, many are not interested in purchasing the uniforms, but some are willing to consider it. "If my kids are at risk based on where they live and where they go to school and those things (stab proof uniforms) are available then I'd have no hesitation in buying them,” said parent, Boris Simpson.

(c) Retha Scholtz, www.sxc.hu