Clarke considers full-time metal detector for courthouse

Ametal detector atthe provincial courthouse in Halifax may beturned on permanently.

Justice Minister Cecil Clarke said he's considering using the walk-through detector on a regular basis after hearing about the potential weapons confiscated last week.

"I do recognize that it a matter of concern," he said Monday.

The screening machine is used on a case-by-case basis, following a risk assessment.

It was turned onlast Thursday for a high-profile drug trial. Sheriffs seized a number of items,such asknives, arazor bladeand alighter shaped like a handgun.

The Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys Association argues the detector should be used full-time tohelp ensure the safety of everyone in the courthouse.

Clarke said he wantsto meet with a committee that has been looking into security at provincial courthouses before deciding what to do.

"The fact of the matter is we've been working with the court security committee and dealing with concerns as they have arisen. This just heightens the reason why we're doing that review right now," he said.