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Unbelievably, a knife incident now happens every
25 minutes in the UK*. Four in five of the offenders
are 12-20 years old* – the vast proportion will
therefore be school, college or university students.
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| Although bringing a knife into school premises has been illegal since the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, teachers are still in danger of physical harm from persistent offenders who flout the law. Knives are carried to school by students as young as 10 – and, when questioned, 12% of 14-17 year olds admit to having carried a knife**. Out of school, where violent offences often take place, teachers are considerably more exposed than on school premises. |
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For teaching and security staff, protective clothing is unfortunately now becoming an every day necessity. The incidence of violence against teachers, particularly where it leads to long-term ill-health, causes the profession to lose many of its bright stars each year. The simple precaution of wearing clothing that protects against knife-slash will help prevent injury and may even save lives. The BladeRunner website – www.bladerunner.tv is a one-stop shop for a ‘new generation’ of protective clothing - slash-proof garments which are stylish, comfortable and safe.. |
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| BladeRunner is an online facility (operated by the Spycatcher Group which specialises in surveillance equipment) through which you can order this new kind of protective clothing. Designed to blend with ordinary high-street fashions, the garments are proven as slash-proof – but are comfortable enough to be worn every day, in the classroom, on the playing field and out of school. |
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The BladeRunner clothing range is the most comprehensive on the market offering such a high level of quality and anti-slash protection, complying with BSEN388 6.2 (blade cut resistance). In testing, the garments achieved Level 2 compliance and can be worn by police or security personnel on frontline or covert operations.
The clothing is stylish as well as functional, and blends very well with high street fashion styles. Garments are lined with Kevlar or woven Aramid fibre for optimum protection.
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For example, BladeRunner’s hooded tops for men and women are fashionable and incredibly comfortable, and come in the whole range of sizes. They are manufactured from 65% + 35% sweat fabric with a large bottom pocket, and the hood has a cotton lining with a Polyester cord and plastic moulded locks. These unisex lightweight ‘hoodies’ come in black, grey, white, pink and pastel blue and have an 180g Kevlar lining, making them wearable as well as protective. Affordable, too, at just £74.74 - £80.50 inc VAT for men and £68.99 inc VAT for the women’s pink and pastel blue versions. |
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There is also a stylish windjammer jacket (right) with front zip, bottom draw-string and integral iPod pocket, for £149.49 inc VAT.
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In warm weather (or for additional protection), short or long-sleeved T-shirts are ideal. Lined with 180g Aramid fibre, the BladeRunner T-shirts are unisex and can be worn like a normal T-shirt or vest. Available in black or white, they are priced at £51.74 inc VAT for long sleeves and £41.39 inc VAT for the classic short sleeved version.
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For security personnel or staff tasked with screening students as they enter school or college and who may have to handle confiscated knives, Kevlar-lined anti-slash leather gloves are also ideal. They are available from just £26.45 inc VAT. |
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Should head and neck protection be required, BladeRunner’s neckwarmer (right) and balaclava also ensure that the most vulnerable areas of neck and head are fully covered to the same level of slash protection.
All products are available to purchase on the BladeRunner website – www.bladerunner.tv
*Home Office site www.knifecrimes.org
**Home Office Statistical Bulletin: Young People and Crime – Findings from the 2006 Offending, Crime
and Justice Survey, pub. Home Office, July 2008.
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Press Document
