The police in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and its Schools Welfare Unit carried out random searches of students at East Coast of Demerara schools on Thursday that uncovered multiple weapons as well as a toy gun.
According to a Guyana Police Force press release, the exercises, which also included lecture sessions, were conducted between 09:00hrs and 13:00hrs. They were intended to tackle anti-social behaviour exhibited by students in schools, which have seen violent encounters in some recent instances.
The schools targeted in the exercises were: Lan-caster Secondary, Bladen Hall Multilateral Secondary, Buxton Practical Instructional Centre, Annandale Secondary, Buxton Secondary, Plaisance Secondary, Beterverwagting Secondary, La Bonne Intention Secondary, Ann’s Grove Secondary, St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secon-dary, Hope Secondary, Golden Grove Secondary and President’s College.
The release said the bags of students were searched in the presence of the Head Master/Mistress and the welfare officers. Among the items discovered as a result were knives, a toy gun, several pairs of scissors, screwdrivers, a toy gun.
The release added that the topics that were discussed during the lecture sessions were violence and crime committed in school, gang fighting, taking offensive weapons to school, being on the streets after school, the consequences of using offensive weapons in school, and respect for teachers.
The release said head teachers applauded the ranks for their participation and urged a continuous process.
