Increasing numbers of people have been caught trying to bring dangerous items such as knives and screwdrivers into the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse.
In the first four months of the year officers seized 39 dangerous items at the entrance.
In all of last year just two such items were seized.
Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd says 20 or 30 years ago people were much more cautious.
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“Even in the major centres their vehicle might be full of weapons but they wouldn’t dare try to bring it into the courts and so it’s just different
attitudes and they’re testing the system too, right? Everytime I get hit with the magnetometer I’m seeing how how reliable our security is if I’m so
inclined.”
In the first quarter almost 7,700 people were screened for dangerous items at the courthouse.
In all of 2024 almost 31,000 people were screened.
