SAMSON ON METAL DETECTORS: ITS ABOUT TIME THIS GOVERNMENT ACTED
Date: Wednesday August 25, 2010

(Halifax, NS) Liberal justice critic Michel Samson is pleased today that the NDP government has finally received the message around courthouse safety and announced permanent metal detectors at Dartmouth Provincial Court.

“It's good to see the Minister finally respond to our calls for improved courtroom safety,” says Samson. “It’s about time he took the necessary steps to protect the public and the people who work in that facility.”

“It took over a year of pressure from the Liberal caucus and a formal complaint to Occupational Health and Safety by the Public Prosecution Service before this Minister and the NDP government got the message,” continues Samson. “That’s just not good enough.”

While the rest of the province’s courthouses are equipped with metal detectors, only the facilities in Dartmouth and on Spring Garden Road in Halifax have the required staff to operate the safety equipment. Samson believes all provincial courts should be given the same capability.

“The changes in Halifax and Dartmouth are as a result of several violent and potentially dangerous incidents - I think it would be wise for this government to move proactively in this case, instead of reacting after the next incident.”

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