Metal detectors in courthouse

Metal detectors are an “unpalatable” source of court security for North Bay residents and shouldn’t be installed in the city’s court house, says North Bay police chief George Berrigan.

The provincial auditor’s report had commented on the lack of consistency in court security across the province, Berrigan told the North Bay Police Services board meeting Tuesday, and he’s concerned the Attorney General could install metal detectors in court rooms and have local police officers operate them.

Berrigan said the police service already spends a “substantial amount” each year providing security at the North Bay courthouse, “which I don’t think anyone municipally sees as the responsibility of the police service.

“So I’m a little concerned now the ministry is looking at jamming some type of standard at us where we’re going to have to have people with metal detectors at each end of the court house which is simply something we cannot afford,” Berrigan said.

“We’re not happy with the situation now but I can’t agree to it getting any worse either.”

Cost would be extreme
The AG ministry would pay for the metal detectors, Berrigan said, but “the human resources costs” would be borne by the police service.

“I can just picture that if we have two people standing in each door while the court house is open, the cost for us would be extreme,” Berrigan said, although he didn’t mention a specific figure.

“I think now we balance it, the judges are at the table, we have a committee, the Crown attorney is at the table and this community and the board are content with the level of security at the court house, and that’s the way it should stay.”

Nor does Berrigan believe metal detectors are necessary.

“And if we have a case we consider high risk our personnel do operate wands outside of the individual court rooms, but I think it would be unpalatable for members of our community to have to walk through a full screening device, and definitely not cost effective,” Berrigan said.

“In downtown Toronto yes, North Bay no.”

The police services board will write a letter to the ministry voicing its concern about the metal detector plan.