"Your Hoodie saved my Life"

international | consumer issues | other press Sunday September 09, 2007 16:30 by Fu Manchu

As if proof were needed of how the idyllic peaceful ways of Ireland are different from Ilford London along comes this next story in foreign silliness - One small town entrepeneur & champion of street crime victims in Rumford, North East England is making consumer news at the moment. The "Bladerunner" company has been making kevlar gloves for some years now, but this year began production of stylish stab proof hooded jackets which are now proving a street cred must amongst the ever more paranoid & cautious parent of i-pod back to schoolers.
Testimonial writers & satisfied customers even tell tales of their foiled stabbing at bank machines - "your hoody saved my life".

"A lot of people I know won't go into Ilford for their shopping any more. We have always dealt with the police but since April we decided to do the hooded tops and we have had a few orders from them for undercover work."......"I was in Ilford recently at about 3pm and saw a group of 20 youths fighting in the street. We had a 15-year-old boy in east London who escaped a knife attack wearing our top with just cuts on hands so it's a good testament for us that it worked for someone."......John Charles, 35, a trader from Wanstead, has been attacked many times by thugs wielding knives, and felt the need to buy a protective hoodie in the belief it may save his life.......Mr Charles said: "With all the problems that we are having at the moment I think it's necessary. I've been slashed in the face before by someone in Hainault. I'm quite sporty and would wear a hoodie anyway so think it's a good idea.........."I have had a lot of problems with people driving around and then pulling over with knives. There are also many people walking around with knives and prepared to use them."
Mr Charles also questions the police's attitude that knife crime is not a problem within the borough. He said: "I have heard the police say that it's a stupid idea but at the end of the day is there going to be a police officer there when someone is trying to stab me?"......Chief Inspector Stan Greatrick of Ilford Police denies that people are more at danger on the street these days saying: "Violent crime in this borough is currently down by 12.7 per cent in July 2006 to July 2007.

the innovation has brought consumer affairs coverage from across the commonwealth -
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22255380....html
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art...26327

the slash proof stab inhibiting Kevlar hoody is credited with stopping bullets in Kansas -
"http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/259986.html
how the local newspaper started it all -
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/display.var.1666986.0....0.php

An established company has chosen to tackle the problem of 21st century urban life in London, Kansas, Australia, South Africa & wherever private school kids need extra help surviving from a different arguably class based my kid doesn't wear a hoody angle.
Trutex of north Lancashire UK are preparing to market a GSP chip school blazer. Trutex produces one million jumpers, 1.1 million shirts, 250,000 trousers, 200,000 coats, 60,000 skirts and another 110,000 items of clothing a year. Clare Rix, the sales director of the company, declared that "the gadgets that could be installed in uniforms represents a security measure for parents as well as a form of control for teachers and a way to reduce unjustified absences." As long as the child has its school blazer on satelite technology will locate it.